Children at daycare

Best Headstart Programs in Durham, NC

Compare 6 headstart programs in Durham. Average rating: 4.32/5 stars. See top 10 ranked daycares, compare by type, and find the right childcare for your family.

Durham, North Carolina at a glance

Programs
6
Avg rating
4.32/5
Parent reviews
699
Top rated (4.5+)
37

Durham has 6 licensed headstart programs with 699 parent reviews averaging 4.32/5.37 are top-rated with 4.5+ stars — 48% of rated programs, well above average.The highest-rated options cluster around 27712 (avg 4.63 stars), while 27707 has the largest selection (37 programs).Start with our top-10 ranked list below or filter by philosophy.

Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in Durham

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

    1200 W Cornwallis Road, Durham, NC · Church Daycare · Capacity: -999 children

    Wildflower Cottage receives unanimous 5-star ratings from parents who praise its nature-based, play-focused curriculum and strong sense of community. Parents consistently highlight the caring, attentive staff with low turnover, thoughtfully designed facilities, and meaningful parent involvement opportunities. Families report noticeable improvements in their children's social-emotional development and independence after attending.

    Nature-based learning environmentimaginative play emphasisoutdoor spaceslow staff turnover
  2. 2

    2724 Atlantic Street, Durham, NC · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children

    Brown's Early Learning School in Durham receives universally positive feedback from parents, with all reviews rating it 5/5 stars. Parents consistently praise the director Ms. Cheryl and her teaching staff for their passion, compassion, and nurturing approach to early childhood education. Families report significant developmental growth in their children and describe the school as creating a warm, family-like environment.

    Passionate and caring teachersstrong communication with parentsnurturing family environmentcomprehensive curriculum including phonics and social skills
  3. 3
    Early Start Academy
    4.56 score
    4.8(12)

    702 Trent Drive, Durham, NC · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children

    Early Start Academy receives consistently excellent reviews from parents who praise the warm, caring staff and safe, nurturing environment. Parents highlight the quality of teachers, engaging activities, and exceptional outdoor facilities. The center is noted as conveniently located and affordable.

    Warm and caring staffsafe environmentengaging art projects and activitiesexcellent outdoor play space
  4. 4

    1912 Chapel Hill Road, Durham, NC · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children

    Community Preschool at Lakewood receives universally positive feedback from parents who praise the caring, nurturing staff and warm environment. Parents consistently highlight strong emotional bonds between teachers and children, excellent facility cleanliness, and effective developmental support. Multiple families express deep gratitude for the center's impact on their children's growth and wellbeing.

    Caring and nurturing staffwarm environmentpersonal attention to each childstrong teacher-child relationships
  5. 5

    2100 South Miami Blvd, Durham, NC · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children

    Alice in Wonderland Childcare Center in Durham receives consistently positive feedback from parents. All reviews rate the facility 5/5 stars, with parents praising the passionate staff, nurturing environment, and strong developmental outcomes for children. Multiple parents describe it as a reliable, loving home away from home.

    Passionate and friendly staffchild development and learning outcomessafe and nurturing environmentcurriculum quality
  6. 6

    1222 N Alston Ave, Durham, NC · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children

    Beautiful Beginnings Child Care Inc. in Durham, NC has no parent reviews about its daycare services on Google. All five recent reviews are from customers who used the facility as an event venue for parties, weddings, and celebrations.

    Spacious and beautiful facilityattentive and kind ownersexcellent communication and response timefull kitchen available
  7. 7

    3400 Fayeteville Street, Durham, NC · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children

    The reviews provided are not for a daycare center but for White Rock Baptist Church in Durham, North Carolina. No actual daycare parent reviews are available to summarize.

    None - reviews are for a churchnot a daycare facility
  8. 8
    Triangle Day Care Center
    4.42 score
    4.6(12)

    1301 Riddle Rd, Durham, NC · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children

    Triangle Day Care Center in Durham, NC receives consistently high praise from parents. All 10 reviews rate the center 5 out of 5 stars, with parents highlighting the professionalism and care of the staff, strong communication with families, clean facilities, and quality curriculum that supports both social and academic development.

    Professional and caring staffexcellent parent communicationclean and well-organized facilitystrong curriculum
  9. 9

    3816 Sw Durham Dr, Durham, NC · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children

    Sprouting Scholars receives overwhelmingly positive feedback for its caring staff, small class sizes, educational curriculum, and excellent daily communication with parents. One parent reported significant concerns about management, inconsistent billing practices, facility maintenance issues, and scheduling changes without notice.

    Warm and caring staffstrong teacher-child relationshipsdaily photo and video updatessmall class sizes
  10. 10
    Watts Sac Club
    4.41 score
    4.7(7)

    700 Watts Street, Durham, NC · Before or After School Daycare · Capacity: -999 children

    Watts SAC Club is described as a welcoming and inclusive community with loving staff. Parents appreciate its progressive values, emphasis on social justice, and strong sense of community connection. The facility is noted for its historic setting and caring approach to both children and neighbors.

    loving staffwelcoming and affirming environmentprogressive and inclusive valuesstrong community focus

Rating Distribution

Based on 77 daycares with Google ratings in Durham

4.5 - 5.0
37
4.0 - 4.4
22
3.0 - 3.9
16
Below 3
2

What Parents Value Most

Top qualities mentioned across 699 reviews, analyzed by AI

1Excellent parent communication
8
2Safe environment
6
3Welcoming environment
5
4Caring and attentive staff
5
5Clean facility
5
6Safe and nurturing environment
5
7Strong teacher-child relationships
4
8Warm and caring staff
4

Best Rated Neighborhoods

Durham zip codes ranked by average daycare rating

Zip CodeDaycaresAvg. RatingTop Rated
277126
4.63
2
2770324
4.48
5
2770118
4.48
6
2770517
4.42
6
2770737
4.34
10
2771326
4.18
4
2770423
3.97
4

Facility Sizes

Capacity distribution of daycares in Durham (– children)

Small

up to 30 children

0

Medium

31–75 children

0

Large

76–150 children

0

Very Large

150+ children

0

Map

Headstart Programs in Durham, North Carolina

There are 6 headstart programs in Durham, North Carolina, making up 4% of the 151 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 Durham have an average rating of 4.32 out of 5 across 77 rated facilities, with 48% scoring 4.5 stars or higher. Church Daycare facilities lead with an average of 4.66 stars. Our analysis covers 699 parent reviews. Parents in Durham most frequently praise daycares for excellent parent communication, safe environment, and welcoming environment.

When choosing a daycare in Durham, 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 Durham

Showing 6 results

Oxford Manor Head Start
Headstart Programs
5
Address
3633 Keystone Place, Durham, NC
Phone
(919) 220-5605
Lyon Park Head Start
Headstart Programs
4.2

A few parents highlight the facility's clean, well-designed environment and helpful staff, noting its role as a community resource with programs for all ages. One reviewer specifically appreciates the indoor track, while others value the variety of events and services offered to Durham residents.

clean facilitieswell-designed spacehelpful staff
Address
1309 Halley St, Durham, NC
Phone
NOT AVAILABLE
Mcdougald Terrace Head Start
Headstart Programs
3.4

Parents praise McDougald Terrace Head Start for character development and community atmosphere. However, there are significant concerns about facility maintenance and customer service responsiveness.

Character developmentcommunity engagementwelcoming environment
Address
1101 E Lawson Street, Durham, NC
Phone
(919) 598-1910
Durham Head Start-Main Site
Headstart Programs

Durham Head Start-Main Site receives perfect 5-star ratings from all reviewers. Parents consistently praise the caring, dedicated teaching staff and strong leadership, noting significant developmental progress in their children. The facility is described as clean, well-organized, and committed to partnering with families.

Caring and dedicated teachersStrong leadership and director availabilityLow staff turnover
Address
215 Seminary Avenue, Durham, NC
Phone
(919) 688-5541
Primary Colors Early Learning Center
Headstart Programs
Address
311 Dowd Street, Durham, NC
Phone
(919) 627-6760
Leathers Meachem Head Start
Headstart Programs
Address
908 Liberty Street, Durham, NC
Phone
(919) 536-5560

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Frequently asked questions

There are 6 headstart programs daycares in Durham, North Carolina, out of 151 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 Durham have an average Google rating of 4.32 out of 5 across 77 rated facilities. About 48% of rated daycares score 4.5 stars or higher.
When choosing a daycare in Durham, consider visiting facilities in person and checking:
  • Licensing status with North Carolina's regulatory agency
  • Staff-to-child ratios (requirements vary by age group in North Carolina)
  • Safety measures and cleanliness
  • Daily routines and educational curriculum
  • Parent reviews and ratings
  • Location and hours that fit your schedule
Durham offers several types of childcare facilities:
  • Child Daycare & Preschools — 104 facilities
  • Headstart Programs — 6 facilities
  • Church Daycare — 8 facilities
  • Before or After School Daycare — 33 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 North Carolina 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 Durham for current pricing.
Yes, daycare centers in Durham must be licensed by North Carolina'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.