How do I choose the right daycare in Portland?

When choosing a daycare in Portland, consider visiting facilities in person and checking: Licensing status with Maine's regulatory agency Staff-to-child ratios (requirements vary by age group in Maine) Safety measures and cleanliness Daily routines and educational curriculum Parent reviews and ratings Location and hours that fit your schedule

What types of daycare are available in Portland?

Portland offers several types of childcare facilities: Child Daycare & Preschools — 29 facilities Church Daycare — 1 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.

Church Daycare in Portland, Maine (1 Results)

Q: What is the average cost of daycare in Maine?

Daycare costs in Maine 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 Portland for current pricing.

Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in Portland

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.

Catherine Morrill Day Nursery

4.62 score

5(8)

96 Danforth Street, Portland, ME · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 85 children

Catherine Morrill Day Nursery receives unanimous 5-star ratings from parents who praise the caring, nurturing environment and skilled teachers. Parents highlight excellent communication through the BrightWheel app with daily updates and photos, smooth transitions for new students, and a welcoming community that supports socioeconomic diversity.

caring and compassionate staffnurturing atmosphereexcellent daily communication and updatessmooth transition support for new students

Portside Learning Center

4.56 score

4.7(20)

1976 Washington Avenue, Portland, ME · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 62 children

Portside Learning Center receives consistent 5-star praise from parents who highlight the caring, experienced staff, strong community atmosphere, and comprehensive educational programs. Parents report their children are academically well-prepared for kindergarten while also developing social-emotional skills and confidence. The center's extensive outdoor space, specialized classes (Spanish, yoga, dance, mindfulness), and frequent field trips are frequently cited as standout f

Goldman Family Preschool

4.53 score

4.7(15)

1342 Congress Street, Portland, ME · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 120 children

Goldman Family Preschool is highly rated for its exceptional support of children with special needs and medical conditions, with parents praising the expertise and empathy of staff, particularly Director Mary Lily. The center is NAEYC-accredited and fosters a warm, inclusive community environment that welcomes family involvement and serves the broader Portland area.

Expert staff support for special needs and medical conditionscompassionate and professional teachersstrong director leadershipNAEYC accreditation

Children'S Nursery School

4.5 score

5(5)

159 State Street, Portland, ME · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 20 children

Parents consistently praise Children's Nursery School as an exceptional early childhood experience with dedicated, caring teachers. Families highlight the unique cooperative model that allows parent involvement and appreciate the warm community environment where children develop kindness, compassion, and a love of learning.

Caring and dedicated teacherscooperative model with parent involvementwarm and supportive communityfocus on teaching kindness and compassion

St. Elizabeths Child Dev Center

4.5 score

5(5)

87 High Street, Portland, ME · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 92 children

St. Elizabeth's Child Development Center in Portland receives consistently positive feedback from parents. All reviews praise the caring and experienced staff, nutritious meals prepared on-site, frequent outdoor play opportunities, and convenient hours until 5pm. Parents report their children are happy, well-adjusted, and thriving in the program.

Caring and experienced staffon-site cook provides breakfast/lunch/snacksoutdoor play in all weatherexcellent playground

The Academy For Active Learners LLC

4.48 score

4.6(20)

134 Warren Avenue, Portland, ME · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 156 children

The Academy for Active Learners receives consistently positive feedback from parents across all reviews. Parents praise the caring and responsive staff, strong communication, clean facilities, and developmentally enriching curriculum that prepares children well for kindergarten.

Caring and attentive staffconsistent daily communication with parentsclean and well-maintained facilityhealthy meal options included

Growing Learners Child Care Center

4.31 score

4.5(8)

970 Forest Avenue, Portland, ME · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 80 children

Growing Learners has received overwhelmingly positive feedback from most parents, who praise the teachers' warmth, professionalism, and attentive care. However, two recent negative reviews cite concerns about staff supervision, high turnover, frequent closures, and communication issues.

Kind and patient teachersgood communication with parentsthoughtful childcare philosophyorganized activities

Gentle Wings

4.24 score

4.3(20)

1001 Forest Avenue, Portland, ME · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 12 children

These reviews do not appear to be for a daycare center but rather for a BBQ/smoked meat restaurant called 'Smoked' in Portland, Maine. The reviews consistently praise the food quality, portion sizes, and service, with most customers highly satisfied with their dining experience.

Excellent food qualitygenerous portion sizesfriendly and attentive staffflavorful smoked meats (wings

Children'S House

4.23 score

4.4(7)

415 Forest Avenue, Portland, ME · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 20 children

Children's House is a small, multilingual daycare in Portland, Maine with predominantly positive reviews. Most parents praise the caring staff, welcoming environment, and owner's personal attention to children and families. One negative review cites safety concerns and staffing issues.

Smallhomey atmospheremultilingual staff and ownercaring and respectful staff

Ymca Of Southern Maine- Portland Sacc

4.16 score

4.2(20)

70 Forest Avenue, Portland, ME · Before or After School Daycare · Capacity: -999 children

These reviews are about the YMCA facility itself, not the daycare program. Reviewers praise the gym equipment, pool, staff friendliness, and community mission. The facility offers various amenities including fitness classes, basketball courts, and financial assistance programs.

Clean facilitiesfriendly and helpful staffaffordable membership options with financial assistancediverse amenities (pool

Church Daycare in Portland, Maine

There are 1 church daycare in Portland, Maine, making up 3% of the 32 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.

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

Frequently asked questions

There are 1 church daycare daycares in Portland, Maine, out of 32 total childcare facilities in the city. Browse our directory to compare options and find the right fit for your child.

When choosing a daycare in Portland, consider visiting facilities in person and checking:

Licensing status with Maine's regulatory agency
Staff-to-child ratios (requirements vary by age group in Maine)
Safety measures and cleanliness
Daily routines and educational curriculum
Parent reviews and ratings
Location and hours that fit your schedule

Portland offers several types of childcare facilities:

Child Daycare & Preschools — 29 facilities
Church Daycare — 1 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 Maine 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 Portland for current pricing.

Yes, daycare centers in Portland must be licensed by Maine'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.

1 Church Daycare in Portland, Maine

Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in Portland

Top Rated

Grammy House Preschool - Stevens Avenue Church

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Daycare types in Portland

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