2 Before or After School Daycare in Portland, Maine

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.

1. 1

   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
2. 2

   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

3. 3

   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
4. 4

   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
5. 5

   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
6. 6

   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
7. 7

   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
8. 8

   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
9. 9

   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
10. 10

    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

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