Children at daycare

Best Headstart Programs in Saint Paul, MN

Compare 6 headstart programs in Saint Paul. Average rating: 4.54/5 stars. See top 10 ranked daycares, compare by type, and find the right childcare for your family.

Saint Paul, Minnesota at a glance

Programs
6
Avg rating
4.54/5
Parent reviews
492
Top rated (4.5+)
30

Saint Paul has 6 licensed headstart programs with 492 parent reviews averaging 4.54/5.30 are top-rated with 4.5+ stars — 65% of rated programs, well above average.The highest-rated options cluster around 55108 (avg 5 stars), while 55104 has the largest selection (17 programs).Start with our top-10 ranked list below or filter by philosophy.

Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in Saint Paul

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
    Jean Lyle Children'S Center
    4.8 score
    5(20)

    130 N Howell St, Saint Paul, MN · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 55 children

    Jean Lyle Children's Center receives unanimous 5-star ratings from parents who praise the caring, experienced staff, small teacher-to-student ratios, and play-based curriculum. Parents consistently highlight strong socio-emotional development, enriching activities (art, field trips, performances), and a welcoming community as transformative experiences for their children.

    Exceptional teacher-to-student ratiosexperienced and consistent staff with low turnoverplay-based learning approachstrong socio-emotional development focus
  2. 2
    Macalester Plymouth Preschool
    4.8 score
    5(20)

    1658 Lincoln Ave, Saint Paul, MN · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 52 children

    Parents consistently praise Macalester Plymouth Preschool for its warm, caring staff and play-based curriculum that fosters a love of learning. The school is noted for personalized attention to each child, creative weekly themes, and a strong sense of community. Multiple families with multiple children have enrolled, indicating high satisfaction and trust.

    Warm and welcoming staffpersonalized attention to individual children's needsplay-based learning approachcreative curriculum blending art music science and cultural awareness
  3. 3
    Edgcumbe Montessori & Day Care
    4.72 score
    5(13)

    2149 Edgcumbe Rd, Saint Paul, MN · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 50 children

    Edgcumbe Montessori & Day Care in Saint Paul receives perfect 5/5 ratings across all reviews. Parents consistently praise the warm, caring staff, Montessori approach, extensive outdoor space (2 acres), and responsive leadership. Children show strong developmental growth and parents report high satisfaction with the facility's quality care and reasonable pricing.

    Warm and caring staffMontessori/nature-based curriculumextensive outdoor play area (2 acres)responsive director and owners
  4. 4
    Community Child Care Center
    4.58 score
    5(7)

    1250 Fifield Ave, Saint Paul, MN · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 48 children

    Community Child Care Center in Saint Paul receives consistently excellent reviews with all 5-star ratings. Parents praise the caring, attentive staff, diverse and inclusive community, well-planned developmental activities, and welcoming environment that helps children thrive emotionally and academically.

    caring and attentive teachers and staffdiverse community representing 14 languageswell-planned educational activitieslarge outdoor playground
  5. 5
    Macdonald Montessori School
    4.56 score
    4.7(20)

    175 S Western Ave, Saint Paul, MN · Before or After School Daycare · Capacity: 188 children

    Parents consistently praise MacDonald Montessori for its warm, nurturing environment and dedicated staff who are invested in children's growth and happiness. The Montessori approach encourages independence and curiosity, and families report excellent communication and flexible support. Children show enthusiasm for school and thrive in the well-organized, engaging classrooms.

    Caring and trained teacherslow staff turnoverMontessori teaching approachclean and well-organized facility
  6. 6
    Kinderstube German Immersion Preschool Germanic American Institute
    4.55 score
    4.9(8)

    301 Summit Ave, Saint Paul, MN · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 20 children

    Kinderstube is highly praised as an exceptional German immersion preschool with long-tenured, dedicated staff who create a warm, child-focused environment. Parents consistently highlight the quality of German language instruction, outdoor play, social-emotional development, and calm Montessori-inspired approach that keeps children engaged and happy.

    Experienced and caring staff with strong German language skillsGerman immersion program with natural language acquisitionextensive outdoor playtime and neighborhood adventureshands-on activities including art and music
  7. 7
    Children'S Center Montessori School (The)
    4.55 score
    4.8(11)

    1536 Minnehaha Ave W, Saint Paul, MN · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 30 children

    Parents overwhelmingly praise Children's Center Montessori School for its caring, attentive staff and high-quality Montessori curriculum. Children reportedly thrive academically and socially, forming lasting friendships and developing strong foundational skills for kindergarten and beyond. Multiple parents describe the school as a warm, nurturing community that feels like a second family.

    Caring and attentive staffstrong academic preparation for kindergartenMontessori program qualitynurturing environment
  8. 8
    Faithful Beginnings At St Marks Catholic School
    4.53 score
    4.7(16)

    1983 Dayton Ave, Saint Paul, MN · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 120 children

    Parents praise Faithful Beginnings at St. Mark's Catholic School for its caring, invested teachers and nurturing environment. Children are excited to attend and parents appreciate the flexible scheduling, faith-based curriculum, and strong sense of community. The school is noted for academic rigor and character development.

    Kind and patient teachersflexible schedulingabundant playtimefaith-based education
  9. 9
    Little School INC (The)
    4.35 score
    4.7(5)

    1795 Ford Pkwy, Saint Paul, MN · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 40 children

    The Little School receives consistently high praise from parents for its exceptional teachers, small class ratios, and creative, nurturing environment. Parents highlight the warm, caring staff and strong developmental support. One parent noted the facility doesn't accept childcare subsidies, which limits accessibility for some families.

    Experienced and caring teachers with low turnoverexceptional teacher-to-child ratios (3 infants4 toddlers per group)creative curriculum and activities
  10. 10
    All Ages & Faces Academy
    4.28 score
    4.4(11)

    580 Fuller Ave, Saint Paul, MN · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 90 children

    All Ages & Faces Academy in Saint Paul receives overwhelmingly positive reviews from parents, with most praising the caring staff, strong communication, and educational development of their children. Parents consistently highlight specific teachers by name and express high satisfaction with their children's growth and happiness. A few parents noted occasional inconsistencies in staff approach to toddler behavior management but remain satisfied overall.

    caring and acc

Rating Distribution

Based on 46 daycares with Google ratings in Saint Paul

4.5 - 5.0
30
4.0 - 4.4
10
3.0 - 3.9
6
Below 3
0

What Parents Value Most

Top qualities mentioned across 492 reviews, analyzed by AI

1Clean facility
5
2Reasonable pricing
4
3Excellent communication with parents
4
4Low staff turnover
3
5Excellent parent communication
3
6Safe environment
3

Daycare Types Compared

Average ratings by facility type in Saint Paul, based on parent reviews

Child Daycare & Preschools

4.66avg rating
69 daycares · 37 rated

Headstart Programs

3.78avg rating
6 daycares · 6 rated

Before or After School Daycare

4.7avg rating
2 daycares · 1 rated

Church Daycare

4.4avg rating
2 daycares · 2 rated

Best Rated Neighborhoods

Saint Paul zip codes ranked by average daycare rating

Zip CodeDaycaresAvg. RatingTop Rated
551085
5
3
5510510
4.8
2
551168
4.58
3
551029
4.58
3
551068
4.5
3
5510417
4.47
8
551196
4.3
2
551015
4
1

Facility Sizes

Capacity distribution of daycares in Saint Paul (20–206 children)

Small

up to 30 children

11

Medium

31–75 children

35

Large

76–150 children

29

Very Large

150+ children

4

Top Rated

Highest rated daycares in Saint Paul based on parent reviews

Ruth O. Benner Head Start Center

4.3(6)

586 Fuller Ave, Saint Paul, MN

Ruth O. Benner Head Start Center receives consistently high marks from parents, with most giving 5-star ratings. Parents praise the teachers' dedication to children's learning and development, noting strong support for academics and take-home learning materials. The center is described as helpful and highly recommendable.

Dedicated and caring teachersstrong focus on academics (lettersnumbers

Battle Creek Head Start

4.7

2181 Suburban Ave, Saint Paul, MN

Mc Donough Head Start

4.7

1544 Timberlake Rd, Saint Paul, MN

Roosevelt Head Start

3(2)

1575 Ames Ave, Saint Paul, MN

One parent highlights the helpful and loving nature of the teachers, specifically mentioning Mrs. Val and Sarina yang. Conversely, another reviewer reports a frustrating experience with unanswered phone calls despite multiple messages left over several months.

helpful teachersloving staffteachers have children of their own

University Head Start

3(3)

450 Syndicate St N, Saint Paul, MN

One parent highlights the clean environment and friendly staff, while a separate review details severe safety concerns involving physical harassment and inadequate administrative response. The facility is described as a place where some children enjoy attending, but others face distress due to unresolved behavioral issues among peers.

Clean facilityFriendly staffChildren enjoy attendance

Mt. Airy Head Start

3(4)

91 E Arch St, Saint Paul, MN

Feedback for this Head Start program is mixed, with some former students recalling positive experiences with friendly teachers and engaging activities, while current parents report significant issues with organization and health protocols. Recent parents express deep concern regarding the learning environment and management, contrasting with nostalgic memories of the school's past quality.

friendly teachersfun activitiesengaging music and dancing

Map

Daycare types in Saint Paul

Child Daycare & Preschools 69Headstart Programs 6Church Daycare 2Before or After School Daycare 2

Browse by type in Saint Paul

🌱 Montessori 9🎨 Preschools 5

Headstart Programs in Saint Paul, Minnesota

There are 6 headstart programs in Saint Paul, Minnesota, making up 8% of the 79 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 Saint Paul have an average rating of 4.54 out of 5 across 46 rated facilities, with 65% scoring 4.5 stars or higher. Before or After School Daycare facilities lead with an average of 4.7 stars. Our analysis covers 492 parent reviews. Parents in Saint Paul most frequently praise daycares for clean facility, reasonable pricing, and excellent communication with parents.

When choosing a daycare in Saint Paul, 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 Saint Paul

Showing 6 results

Battle Creek Head Start
Headstart Programs
4.7
Address
2181 Suburban Ave, Saint Paul, MN
Phone
(651) 730-1663
Mc Donough Head Start
Headstart Programs
4.7
Address
1544 Timberlake Rd, Saint Paul, MN
Phone
(651) 558-2188
Ruth O. Benner Head Start Center
Headstart Programs
4.3

Ruth O. Benner Head Start Center receives consistently high marks from parents, with most giving 5-star ratings. Parents praise the teachers' dedication to children's learning and development, noting strong support for academics and take-home learning materials. The center is described as helpful and highly recommendable.

Dedicated and caring teachersstrong focus on academics (lettersnumbers
Address
586 Fuller Ave, Saint Paul, MN
Phone
(651) 224-4363
University Head Start
Headstart Programs
3

One parent highlights the clean environment and friendly staff, while a separate review details severe safety concerns involving physical harassment and inadequate administrative response. The facility is described as a place where some children enjoy attending, but others face distress due to unresolved behavioral issues among peers.

Clean facilityFriendly staffChildren enjoy attendance
Address
450 Syndicate St N, Saint Paul, MN
Phone
(651) 603-5962
Mt. Airy Head Start
Headstart Programs
3

Feedback for this Head Start program is mixed, with some former students recalling positive experiences with friendly teachers and engaging activities, while current parents report significant issues with organization and health protocols. Recent parents express deep concern regarding the learning environment and management, contrasting with nostalgic memories of the school's past quality.

friendly teachersfun activitiesengaging music and dancing
Address
91 E Arch St, Saint Paul, MN
Phone
(651) 228-3196
Roosevelt Head Start
Headstart Programs
3

One parent highlights the helpful and loving nature of the teachers, specifically mentioning Mrs. Val and Sarina yang. Conversely, another reviewer reports a frustrating experience with unanswered phone calls despite multiple messages left over several months.

helpful teachersloving staffteachers have children of their own
Address
1575 Ames Ave, Saint Paul, MN
Phone
(651) 774-6311

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Frequently asked questions

There are 6 headstart programs daycares in Saint Paul, Minnesota, out of 79 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 Saint Paul have an average Google rating of 4.54 out of 5 across 46 rated facilities. About 65% of rated daycares score 4.5 stars or higher.
When choosing a daycare in Saint Paul, consider visiting facilities in person and checking:
  • Licensing status with Minnesota's regulatory agency
  • Staff-to-child ratios (requirements vary by age group in Minnesota)
  • Safety measures and cleanliness
  • Daily routines and educational curriculum
  • Parent reviews and ratings
  • Location and hours that fit your schedule
Saint Paul offers several types of childcare facilities:
  • Child Daycare & Preschools — 69 facilities
  • Headstart Programs — 6 facilities
  • Church Daycare — 2 facilities
  • Before or After School Daycare — 2 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 Minnesota 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 Saint Paul for current pricing.
Yes, daycare centers in Saint Paul must be licensed by Minnesota'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.