Children at daycare

Best Before or After School Daycare in Essex, VT

Compare 7 before or after school daycare in Essex. Average rating: 4.39/5 stars. See top 10 ranked daycares, compare by type, and find the right childcare for your family.

Essex, Vermont at a glance

Programs
7
Avg rating
4.39/5
Parent reviews
114
Top rated (4.5+)
6

Essex has 7 licensed before or after school daycare with 114 parent reviews averaging 4.39/5.6 are top-rated with 4.5+ stars — 50% of rated programs, well above average.The highest-rated options cluster around the 05452 zip code, averaging 4.43 stars across 21 programs.Start with our top-10 ranked list below or filter by philosophy.

Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in Essex

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
    Little One'S University INC
    4.51 score
    4.8(9)

    104 Old Colchester Road, Essex, VT · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 54 children

    Parents consistently praise Little Ones University for its organized, structured environment with passionate staff who genuinely care for children. The center emphasizes developmentally appropriate activities, regular communication with parents via the Brightwheel app, and creates a welcoming community where children are happy and engaged.

    Passionate and caring staffstrong leadership (Director Caryl)organized and structured daily routinesdevelopmentally appropriate activities
  2. 2
    The Balancing Act Enrichment Center
    4.48 score
    4.6(20)

    2 Corporate Drive, Essex, VT · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 20 children

    Parents consistently praise this gymnastics facility for its excellent coaching staff, top-quality equipment, and expanded facility. Reviews highlight strong competitive performance, welcoming atmosphere, and quality programming for various age groups from toddlers through competitive team members.

    Experienced and supportive coachesclean and well-equipped facilitycompetitive success and high placementsvariety of classes for different ages
  3. 3
    Center For Technology Essex Preschool
    4.44 score
    4.8(6)

    3 Educational Drive, Essex, VT · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 15 children

    This facility appears to be a technical/vocational school rather than a traditional daycare center. Reviews are limited and mixed in relevance, with positive feedback about instructor quality, communication, and support for students pursuing cosmetology and technical training.

    Good administrative communicationknowledgeable and engaging instructorsstrong student supportsuccessful career outcomes for graduates
  4. 4
    Steamworks Preschool
    4.23 score
    4.3(18)

    51 Center Road, Essex, VT · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 40 children

    Parents consistently praise STEAMworks Preschool for its caring, dedicated staff and enriching educational activities. Children show enthusiasm for attending and demonstrate significant growth in social skills and academics. The director Amy and teachers like Crystal, Lauren, Nikki, and Tess receive particular recognition for their commitment and individualized attention to each child.

    Caring and dedicated teachersenriching STEAM-based activitiesstrong communication with parentshelps develop social skills
  5. 5
    Loveworks Child Care Centers INC.
    4.16 score
    4.2(20)

    25 Pinecrest Drive, Essex, VT · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 58 children

    Loveworks Child Care Centers in Essex receives consistently high praise from parents. All 10 reviews are 5-star ratings, with parents highlighting excellent teacher engagement, strong communication, and their children's happiness and development at the center.

    Caring and dedicated teachersexcellent parent-child transitionsopen daily communication with directors and staffvaried activities including outdoor and creative time
  6. 6
    Sports & Fitness Edge Kids & Fitness
    4.16 score
    4.2(20)

    4 Morse Drive, Essex, VT · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 187 children

    Sports & Fitness Edge Kids & Fitness is highly rated for its caring, experienced staff and comprehensive programming including sports instruction, music classes, and kindergarten preparation. Parents praise the clean facilities, responsive management, and welcoming community atmosphere. The facility offers strong fitness amenities alongside quality childcare services.

    Caring and long-tenured staffexcellent sports programming (swimmingtennissoccer)
  7. 7
    Camp Maple Street
    3.7 score
    3.4(5)

    75 Maple Street, Essex, VT · Before or After School Daycare · Capacity: 125 children

    Reviews are mixed and largely discuss the associated public park and pool facilities rather than the daycare itself. Parents praise the park's maintenance and amenities, but several complaints focus on pool safety rules and facility restrictions.

    Well-maintained public parkmultiple playgrounds for different agesskate parkbike paths

Rating Distribution

Based on 12 daycares with Google ratings in Essex

4.5 - 5.0
6
4.0 - 4.4
4
3.0 - 3.9
2
Below 3
0

Daycare Types Compared

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

Child Daycare & Preschools

4.48avg rating
18 daycares · 11 rated

Before or After School Daycare

3.4avg rating
7 daycares · 1 rated

Best Rated Neighborhoods

Essex zip codes ranked by average daycare rating

Zip CodeDaycaresAvg. RatingTop Rated
0545221
4.43
6

Facility Sizes

Capacity distribution of daycares in Essex (10–187 children)

Small

up to 30 children

7

Medium

31–75 children

14

Large

76–150 children

3

Very Large

150+ children

1

Top Rated

Highest rated daycares in Essex based on parent reviews

Camp Maple Street

3.4(5)

75 Maple Street, Essex, VT

Reviews are mixed and largely discuss the associated public park and pool facilities rather than the daycare itself. Parents praise the park's maintenance and amenities, but several complaints focus on pool safety rules and facility restrictions.

Well-maintained public parkmultiple playgrounds for different agesskate park

Map

Daycare types in Essex

Child Daycare & Preschools 18Before or After School Daycare 7

Browse by type in Essex

🎨 Preschools 4📚 Kindergarten 3

Before or After School Daycare in Essex, Vermont

There are 7 before or after school daycare in Essex, Vermont, making up 28% of the 25 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 Essex have an average rating of 4.39 out of 5 across 12 rated facilities, with 50% scoring 4.5 stars or higher. Child Daycare & Preschools facilities lead with an average of 4.48 stars. Our analysis covers 114 parent reviews.

When choosing a daycare in Essex, 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 Essex

Showing 7 results

Camp Maple Street
Before or After School Daycare
3.4

Reviews are mixed and largely discuss the associated public park and pool facilities rather than the daycare itself. Parents praise the park's maintenance and amenities, but several complaints focus on pool safety rules and facility restrictions.

Well-maintained public parkmultiple playgrounds for different agesskate park
Address
75 Maple Street, Essex, VT
Phone
(802) 878-1375
Quality
Essex Elementary School Prekindergarten
Before or After School Daycare
Address
1 Bixby Hill Road, Essex, VT
Phone
(802) 857-2162
Quality
Village Kids At Fleming
Before or After School Daycare
Address
21 Prospect Street, Essex, VT
Phone
(802) 881-2213
Quality
Y School Age Program At Essex
Before or After School Daycare
Address
1 Bixby Hill Road, Essex, VT
Phone
(802) 652-8190
Y School Age Program At Founders Elementary
Before or After School Daycare
Address
33 Founders Road, Essex, VT
Phone
(802) 652-8190
Quality
Village Kids At Summit Street
Before or After School Daycare
Address
17 Summit Street, Essex, VT
Phone
(802) 238-4190
Quality
Village Kids At Hiawatha
Before or After School Daycare
Address
34 Hiawatha Elementary, Essex, VT
Phone
(802) 881-8885
Quality

Page 1 of 1· 7 results

Frequently asked questions

There are 7 before or after school daycares in Essex, Vermont, out of 25 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 Essex have an average Google rating of 4.39 out of 5 across 12 rated facilities. About 50% of rated daycares score 4.5 stars or higher.
When choosing a daycare in Essex, consider visiting facilities in person and checking:
  • Licensing status with Vermont's regulatory agency
  • Staff-to-child ratios (requirements vary by age group in Vermont)
  • Safety measures and cleanliness
  • Daily routines and educational curriculum
  • Parent reviews and ratings
  • Location and hours that fit your schedule
Essex offers several types of childcare facilities:
  • Child Daycare & Preschools — 18 facilities
  • Before or After School Daycare — 7 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 Vermont 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 Essex for current pricing.
Yes, daycare centers in Essex must be licensed by Vermont'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.