Children at daycare

Best Headstart Programs in Council Bluffs, IA

Compare 2 headstart programs in Council Bluffs. Average rating: 4.16/5 stars. See top 10 ranked daycares, compare by type, and find the right childcare for your family.

Council Bluffs, Iowa at a glance

Programs
2
Avg rating
4.16/5
Parent reviews
114
Top rated (4.5+)
10

Council Bluffs has 2 licensed headstart programs with 114 parent reviews averaging 4.16/5.10 are top-rated with 4.5+ stars — 45% of rated programs, well above average.The largest concentration is in 51503 with 20 programs.Start with our top-10 ranked list below or filter by philosophy.

Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in Council Bluffs

Ranked using a weighted score that combines Google rating with the number of parent reviews — daycares with more reviews rank higher than those with a high rating but few reviews. Last updated: March 2026.

  1. 1
    Montessori Children'S House
    4.74 score
    5(14)

    400 Cloverdale Dr, Council Bluffs, IA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 35 children

    Montessori Children's House receives universally positive feedback from parents who praise the caring, dedicated teaching staff and strong Montessori curriculum. Parents highlight significant academic and social growth in their children, along with a safe, welcoming environment that fosters a genuine love of learning.

    Dedicated and caring teachersage-appropriate Montessori materialsindividualized learning at child's own paceseasonal shelf rotations
  2. 2
    Beginning Memories Preschool
    4.28 score
    4.4(12)

    2102 Avenue E, Council Bluffs, IA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 30 children

    Beginning Memories Preschool in Council Bluffs receives consistently positive feedback from parents who praise the caring staff, particularly the director/owner known as 'Memory.' Parents highlight strong academic preparation for kindergarten, engaging activities including field trips and swimming, and a balance of structured learning with play-based activities.

    Patient and caring staffstrong academic preparationwell-organized curriculumregular field trips and outdoor activities
  3. 3
    Madison Early Head Start
    3.89 score
    3.8(6)

    755 Madison Avenue, Council Bluffs, IA · Headstart Programs · Capacity: 32 children

    Madison Early Head Start receives mixed reviews with significant concerns about safety and organization. While some parents praise the teachers and parent advocate as kind and helpful, multiple parents report serious issues with food allergies, disorganization, and poor communication.

    Kind and understanding teachershelpful parent advocatesupportive assistance provided
  4. 4
    Council Bluffs I, II, III Head Start
    3.89 score
    3.8(6)

    765 Madison Ave, Council Bluffs, IA · Headstart Programs · Capacity: 60 children

    Council Bluffs I, II, III Head Start receives mixed reviews. Positive feedback highlights helpful staff and kind teachers, while negative reviews raise serious concerns about disorganization, failure to accommodate food allergies, and unresponsive staff.

    Helpful staffkind and understanding early head start teachersparent advocate support
  5. 5
    Shea'S Learning Days Child Development Center LLC
    3.45 score
    3.1(8)

    2308 Ave J, Council Bluffs, IA · Church Daycare · Capacity: 67 children

    Shea's Learning Days has highly polarized reviews. Some parents report positive experiences with clean facilities, responsive staff, and good communication. However, the majority of reviews cite serious concerns including poor management, understaffing, staff turnover, and questionable business practices.

    Clean facilityfriendly and responsive staffgood communication via appaccommodating to parent preferences
  6. 6
    The Learning Journey II
    3.24 score
    2.7(7)

    17544 Sunnydale Rd, Council Bluffs, IA · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 80 children

    THE LEARNING JOURNEY II receives mixed reviews with stark contrasts. Positive reviewers praise the learning environment, staff compassion, and cleanliness. However, multiple negative reviews cite safety concerns, arbitrary child dismissals, alleged staff disrespect, unfair treatment between scholarship and private-pay families, and potential violations of state childcare ratios.

    Learning and play environmentcaring and compassionate staffclean facilitychildren enjoy attending

Rating Distribution

Based on 22 daycares with Google ratings in Council Bluffs

4.5 - 5.0
10
4.0 - 4.4
3
3.0 - 3.9
6
Below 3
3

What Parents Value Most

Top qualities mentioned across 114 reviews, analyzed by AI

1Issues addressed and resolved
3
2Issues have been addressed and resolved
3

Daycare Types Compared

Average ratings by facility type in Council Bluffs, based on parent reviews

Child Daycare & Preschools

4.2avg rating
19 daycares · 15 rated

Before or After School Daycare

4.27avg rating
15 daycares · 3 rated

Church Daycare

4.05avg rating
2 daycares · 2 rated

Headstart Programs

3.8avg rating
2 daycares · 2 rated

Best Rated Neighborhoods

Council Bluffs zip codes ranked by average daycare rating

Zip CodeDaycaresAvg. RatingTop Rated
5150116
4.3
3
5150320
4.12
6

Facility Sizes

Capacity distribution of daycares in Council Bluffs (17–200 children)

Small

up to 30 children

3

Medium

31–75 children

15

Large

76–150 children

17

Very Large

150+ children

2

Top Rated

Highest rated daycares in Council Bluffs based on parent reviews

Madison Early Head Start

3.8(6)

755 Madison Avenue, Council Bluffs, IA

Madison Early Head Start receives mixed reviews with significant concerns about safety and organization. While some parents praise the teachers and parent advocate as kind and helpful, multiple parents report serious issues with food allergies, disorganization, and poor communication.

Kind and understanding teachershelpful parent advocatesupportive assistance provided

Council Bluffs I, II, III Head Start

3.8(6)

765 Madison Ave, Council Bluffs, IA

Council Bluffs I, II, III Head Start receives mixed reviews. Positive feedback highlights helpful staff and kind teachers, while negative reviews raise serious concerns about disorganization, failure to accommodate food allergies, and unresponsive staff.

Helpful staffkind and understanding early head start teachersparent advocate support

Map

Daycare types in Council Bluffs

Child Daycare & Preschools 19Headstart Programs 2Church Daycare 2Before or After School Daycare 15

Browse by type in Council Bluffs

🎨 Preschools 3

Headstart Programs in Council Bluffs, Iowa

There are 2 headstart programs in Council Bluffs, Iowa, making up 5% of the 38 total childcare facilities in the city. Below you'll find a complete directory to help you compare and choose the right daycare for your child.

Based on Google reviews, daycares in Council Bluffs have an average rating of 4.16 out of 5 across 22 rated facilities, with 45% scoring 4.5 stars or higher. Before or After School Daycare facilities lead with an average of 4.27 stars. Our analysis covers 114 parent reviews.

When choosing a daycare in Council Bluffs, consider visiting facilities in person, checking their licensing status, and asking about staff-to-child ratios, daily routines, and safety policies.

All Headstart Programs in Council Bluffs

Showing 2 results

Madison Early Head Start
Headstart Programs
3.8

Madison Early Head Start receives mixed reviews with significant concerns about safety and organization. While some parents praise the teachers and parent advocate as kind and helpful, multiple parents report serious issues with food allergies, disorganization, and poor communication.

Kind and understanding teachershelpful parent advocatesupportive assistance provided
Address
755 Madison Avenue, Council Bluffs, IA
Phone
(712) 352-2451
Council Bluffs I, II, III Head Start
Headstart Programs
3.8

Council Bluffs I, II, III Head Start receives mixed reviews. Positive feedback highlights helpful staff and kind teachers, while negative reviews raise serious concerns about disorganization, failure to accommodate food allergies, and unresponsive staff.

Helpful staffkind and understanding early head start teachersparent advocate support
Address
765 Madison Ave, Council Bluffs, IA
Phone
(712) 322-2210

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Frequently asked questions

There are 2 headstart programs daycares in Council Bluffs, Iowa, out of 38 total childcare facilities in the city. Browse our directory to compare options and find the right fit for your child.
Based on parent reviews, daycares in Council Bluffs have an average Google rating of 4.16 out of 5 across 22 rated facilities. About 45% of rated daycares score 4.5 stars or higher.
When choosing a daycare in Council Bluffs, consider visiting facilities in person and checking:
  • Licensing status with Iowa's regulatory agency
  • Staff-to-child ratios (requirements vary by age group in Iowa)
  • Safety measures and cleanliness
  • Daily routines and educational curriculum
  • Parent reviews and ratings
  • Location and hours that fit your schedule
Council Bluffs offers several types of childcare facilities:
  • Child Daycare & Preschools — 19 facilities
  • Headstart Programs — 2 facilities
  • Church Daycare — 2 facilities
  • Before or After School Daycare — 15 facilities
Each type serves different needs — center-based facilities typically offer structured programs, while head start programs are federally funded for low-income families.
Daycare costs in Iowa typically range from $200 to $400 per week for full-time care, depending on the child's age, facility type, and location within the state. Infant care tends to be more expensive due to lower staff-to-child ratio requirements. Contact individual facilities in Council Bluffs for current pricing.
Yes, daycare centers in Council Bluffs must be licensed by Iowa's childcare licensing agency. Licensed facilities are required to meet standards for safety, health, staff qualifications, and staff-to-child ratios. You can verify a facility's license status through your state's licensing database.