Children at daycare

Best Before or After School Daycare in Marion, NC

Compare 10 before or after school daycare in Marion. Average rating: 3.89/5 stars. See top 10 ranked daycares, compare by type, and find the right childcare for your family.

Marion, North Carolina at a glance

Programs
10
Avg rating
3.89/5
Parent reviews
64
Top rated (4.5+)
1

Marion has 10 licensed before or after school daycare with 64 parent reviews averaging 3.89/5.The largest concentration is in 28752 with 22 programs.Browse all options below to find the right fit for your family.

Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in Marion

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
    New Manna Baptist Church Preschool
    4.4 score
    4.5(20)

    225 E Court Street, Marion, NC · Church Daycare · Capacity: -999 children

    NOTE: Reviews provided are for the church facility, not the preschool program. Reviewers praise New Manna Baptist Church for its welcoming atmosphere, biblical teaching using the King James Version, and engaging youth programs and conferences. Leadership, particularly Pastor Tony Shirley, receives consistent praise for being approachable, spiritual, and community-focused.

    Friendly staff and congregationclean facilityKJV biblical teachingSpirit-filled services
  2. 2
    Mcdowell Tech. Community College Child Dev. Ctr.
    4.32 score
    4.4(20)

    54 College Drive, Marion, NC · Before or After School Daycare · Capacity: -999 children

    These reviews do not appear to be for the daycare center, but rather for McDowell Tech Community College itself. The reviews praise the college's facilities, instructors, and various programs and services.

    Beautiful mountain campussmall class sizeshelpful instructorsexcellent customer service
  3. 3
    Little Wonders
    3.16 score
    2.7(9)

    474 State Street, Marion, NC · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children

    Little Wonders has extremely polarized reviews. Two parents praised the staff and care highly, but eight parents reported serious concerns including inappropriate child restraint, excessive sick-day policies, inadequate supervision, staff shortages, and alleged mistreatment of toddlers displaying normal age-appropriate behaviors.

    Caring and wonderful staffchildren enjoy attendinglong-term positive experiencesstrong staff-child relationships

Rating Distribution

Based on 7 daycares with Google ratings in Marion

4.5 - 5.0
1
4.0 - 4.4
3
3.0 - 3.9
2
Below 3
1

Daycare Types Compared

Average ratings by facility type in Marion, based on parent reviews

Before or After School Daycare

4.4avg rating
10 daycares · 1 rated

Child Daycare & Preschools

3.47avg rating
7 daycares · 3 rated

Church Daycare

4.5avg rating
3 daycares · 1 rated

Headstart Programs

3.95avg rating
2 daycares · 2 rated

Best Rated Neighborhoods

Marion zip codes ranked by average daycare rating

Zip CodeDaycaresAvg. RatingTop Rated
2875222
3.89
1

Facility Sizes

Capacity distribution of daycares in Marion (– children)

Small

up to 30 children

0

Medium

31–75 children

0

Large

76–150 children

0

Very Large

150+ children

0

Top Rated

Highest rated daycares in Marion based on parent reviews

Mcdowell Tech. Community College Child Dev. Ctr.

4.4(20)

54 College Drive, Marion, NC

These reviews do not appear to be for the daycare center, but rather for McDowell Tech Community College itself. The reviews praise the college's facilities, instructors, and various programs and services.

Beautiful mountain campussmall class sizeshelpful instructors

Map

Daycare types in Marion

Child Daycare & Preschools 7Headstart Programs 2Church Daycare 3Before or After School Daycare 10

Browse by type in Marion

🎨 Preschools 7🎒 After School Programs 6🕊️ Baptist Daycare 2

Before or After School Daycare in Marion, North Carolina

There are 10 before or after school daycare in Marion, North Carolina, making up 45% of the 22 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 Marion have an average rating of 3.89 out of 5 across 7 rated facilities, with 14% scoring 4.5 stars or higher. Church Daycare facilities lead with an average of 4.5 stars. Our analysis covers 64 parent reviews.

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

All Before or After School Daycare in Marion

Showing 10 results

Mcdowell Tech. Community College Child Dev. Ctr.
Before or After School Daycare
4.4

These reviews do not appear to be for the daycare center, but rather for McDowell Tech Community College itself. The reviews praise the college's facilities, instructors, and various programs and services.

Beautiful mountain campussmall class sizeshelpful instructors
Address
54 College Drive, Marion, NC
Phone
(828) 652-0637
Eastfield Elementary Preschool
Before or After School Daycare
Address
170 Eastfield School Road, Marion, NC
Phone
(828) 652-3730
Ymca Pleasant Gardens Afterschool
Before or After School Daycare
Address
100 John Roach Drive, Marion, NC
Phone
(828) 747-2481
Ymca Glenwood Afterschool
Before or After School Daycare
Address
1545 Old Hwy 221 South, Marion, NC
Phone
(828) 747-1850
Ymca West Marion Afterschool
Before or After School Daycare
Address
820 Marler Road, Marion, NC
Phone
(828) 747-2526
Glenwood Elementary Preschool
Before or After School Daycare
Address
1545 Old Hwy 221 S, Marion, NC
Phone
(828) 738-4220
West Marion Preschool
Before or After School Daycare
Address
820 Marler Road, Marion, NC
Phone
(828) 738-3353
Marion Elementary Preschool
Before or After School Daycare
Address
209 Robert Street, Marion, NC
Phone
(828) 652-2141
Ymca Marion Afterschool
Before or After School Daycare
Address
209 Robert Street, Marion, NC
Phone
(828) 747-1953
North Cove Elementary Preschool
Before or After School Daycare
Address
401 American Thread Road, Marion, NC
Phone
(828) 756-4342

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Frequently asked questions

There are 10 before or after school daycares in Marion, North Carolina, out of 22 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 Marion have an average Google rating of 3.89 out of 5 across 7 rated facilities. About 14% of rated daycares score 4.5 stars or higher.
When choosing a daycare in Marion, 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
Marion offers several types of childcare facilities:
  • Child Daycare & Preschools — 7 facilities
  • Headstart Programs — 2 facilities
  • Church Daycare — 3 facilities
  • Before or After School Daycare — 10 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 Marion for current pricing.
Yes, daycare centers in Marion 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.