Best Daycares in Durham, NC — 2026 Rankings

We ranked 50 daycares and childcare centers in Durham based on licensing, accreditation, parent reviews, and childcare quality.

Top Daycares in Durham

  1. #1 — Afreya's Play Ground Score: 86%

    Afreya's Play Ground is a childcare center in Durham, NC. Programs include Preschool, day care preschool, home service. Website: http://www.afreyasplayground.com/.

    Programs: Preschool, Day care preschool, Home service. View full profile →

  2. #2 — Butterfly Kisses Academy Score: 86%

    Butterfly Kisses Academy is a childcare center in Durham, NC. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: http://www.butterflykissesacademy.com/.

    Programs: Preschool, Home service, Day care preschool. View full profile →

  3. #3 — Early Start Academy Score: 86%

    Early Start Academy is a childcare center in Durham, NC. Programs include Preschool, day care preschool, home service. Website: http://www.earlystartacademy.com/.

    Programs: Preschool, Day care preschool, Home service. View full profile →

  4. #4 — Durham PreK Score: 86%

    Durham PreK is a childcare center in Durham, NC. Programs include Preschool. Website: http://www.durhamprek.org/.

    Programs: Preschool. View full profile →

  5. #5 — Beacon Learning Academy RTP Score: 86%

    Beacon Learning Academy RTP is a childcare center in Durham, NC. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: http://www.beaconrtp.com/.

    Programs: Preschool, Home service, Day care preschool. View full profile →

  6. #6 — Rose of Sharon Preschool Score: 86%

    Rose of Sharon Preschool is a childcare center in Durham, NC. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: http://Www.roseofsharonpreschool.org/.

    Programs: Preschool, Home service, Day care preschool. View full profile →

  7. #7 — Asbury Preschool Score: 86%

    Asbury Preschool is a childcare center in Durham, NC. Programs include Preschool, day care preschool, home service. Website: http://www.asburypreschool.com/.

    Programs: Preschool, Day care preschool, Home service. View full profile →

  8. #8 — Duke Memorial Weekday School Score: 86%

    Duke Memorial Weekday School is a childcare center in Durham, NC. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: http://www.dmws.org/.

    Programs: Preschool, Home service, Day care preschool. View full profile →

  9. #9 — Our PlayHouse Preschool Score: 86%

    Our PlayHouse Preschool is a childcare center in Durham, NC. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: http://www.ourplayhousepreschool.com/.

    Programs: Preschool, Home service, Day care preschool. View full profile →

  10. #10 — Primrose School Score: 86%

    Primrose School is a childcare center in Durham, NC. Programs include Preschool, day care preschool, home service. Website: https://www.primroseschools.com/schools/chapel-hill-east.

    Programs: Preschool, Day care preschool, Home service. View full profile →

  11. #11 — The Goddard School Score: 86%

    The Goddard School is a childcare center in Durham, NC. Programs include Preschool, day care preschool, home service. Website: https://www.goddardschool.com/schools/nc/durham/durham.

    Programs: Preschool, Day care preschool, Home service. View full profile →

  12. #12 — Grey Stone Preschool and Kindergarten Score: 80%

    Grey Stone Preschool and Kindergarten is a childcare center in Durham, NC. Programs include Preschool, elementary school, school. Website: http://www.greystoneschool.org/.

    Programs: Preschool, Elementary school, School. View full profile →

  13. #13 — Beth El Preschool Score: 80%

    Beth El Preschool is a childcare center in Durham, NC. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: http://bethelpreschooldurham.org/.

    Programs: Preschool, Home service, Day care preschool. View full profile →

  14. #14 — Community Preschool at Lakewood Score: 80%

    Community Preschool at Lakewood is a childcare center in Durham, NC. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: http://www.communitypsnc.com/.

    Programs: Preschool, Home service, Day care preschool. View full profile →

  15. #15 — Primrose School at Hope Valley Farms Score: 77%

    Primrose School at Hope Valley Farms is a childcare center in Durham, NC. Programs include Preschool. Website: https://www.primroseschools.com/schools/hope-valley-farms.

    Programs: Preschool. View full profile →

  16. #16 — Children First Score: 74%

    Children First is a childcare center in Durham, NC. Programs include Preschool, school, home service. Website: http://childrenfirstschool.org/cf/contactsupport.

    Programs: Preschool, School, Home service. View full profile →

  17. #17 — Learning Tots Academy Score: 71%

    Learning Tots Academy is a childcare center in Durham, NC. Programs include Preschool. Website: http://www.learningtotsacademy.com.

    Programs: Preschool. View full profile →

  18. #18 — Small World Preschool Score: 71%

    Small World Preschool is a childcare center in Durham, NC. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: http://www.smallworldpreschooldurham.com.

    Programs: Preschool, Home service, Day care preschool. View full profile →

  19. #19 — Brown's Early Learning School Score: 71%

    Brown's Early Learning School is a childcare center in Durham, NC. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: http://brownsearlylearning.webs.com.

    Programs: Preschool, Home service, Day care preschool. View full profile →

  20. #20 — Westminster School for Young Children Score: 71%

    Westminster School for Young Children is a childcare center in Durham, NC. Programs include Preschool. Website: http://westminster-school-nc.org.

    Programs: Preschool. View full profile →

  21. #21 — Little Kidz Preschool Score: 69%

    Little Kidz Preschool is a childcare center in Durham, NC. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: http://LittleKidzPreschool2.com/.

    Programs: Preschool, Home service, Day care preschool. View full profile →

  22. #22 — Little School At Duke Score: 69%

    Little School At Duke is a childcare center in Durham, NC. Programs include Preschool, private school, home service. Website: http://www.thelittleschool.net.

    Programs: Preschool, Private school, Home service. View full profile →

  23. #23 — Epworth Preschool Score: 69%

    Epworth Preschool is a childcare center in Durham, NC. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: http://epworth-preschool.org/.

    Programs: Preschool, Home service, Day care preschool. View full profile →

  24. #24 — Family Preschool Score: 69%

    Family Preschool is a childcare center in Durham, NC. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: http://www.familypreschool.org/.

    Programs: Preschool, Home service, Day care preschool. View full profile →

  25. #25 — Bright Horizons at Research Triangle Park Score: 69%

    Bright Horizons at Research Triangle Park is a childcare center in Durham, NC. Programs include Preschool, day care preschool, home service. Website: https://child-care-preschool.brighthorizons.com/nc/durham/rtp.

    Programs: Preschool, Day care preschool, Home service. View full profile →

  26. #26 — Children's Campus At Southpoint Score: 69%

    Children's Campus At Southpoint is a childcare center in Durham, NC. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: http://www.childrenscampus.com/.

    Programs: Preschool, Home service, Day care preschool. View full profile →

  27. #27 — The Playhouse Early Academy Score: 69%

    The Playhouse Early Academy is a childcare center in Durham, NC. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: http://www.theplayhouseearlyacad.com/.

    Programs: Preschool, Home service, Day care preschool. View full profile →

  28. #28 — Lakewood Avenue Children's School Score: 69%

    Lakewood Avenue Children's School is a childcare center in Durham, NC. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: http://lakewoodavenue.com/.

    Programs: Preschool, Home service, Day care preschool. View full profile →

  29. #29 — Rhythmic Roots Preschool Score: 69%

    Rhythmic Roots Preschool is a childcare center in Durham, NC. Programs include Preschool, music school, home service. Website: http://petitepiano.com/.

    Programs: Preschool, Music school, Home service. View full profile →

  30. #30 — Children's Cooperative Playschool Score: 69%

    Children's Cooperative Playschool is a childcare center in Durham, NC. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: http://www.childrenscooperativeplayschool.com/.

    Programs: Preschool, Home service, Day care preschool. View full profile →

How We Rank Daycares & Childcare Centers

Our Guide Score percentage combines Google rating (35%), review volume (20%), web and contact presence (20%), profile completeness (15%), accreditation such as NAEYC (5%), press recognition (3%), and years of operation (2%), then normalizes across captured positive categories. Read our full methodology →

Frequently asked questions

Who is the #1 daycare in Durham?
Afreya's Play Ground is currently the #1 ranked daycare in Durham based on our Guide Score, which evaluates parent reviews, licensing status, accreditation, and quality signals. See the full ranked list above.
How are daycares ranked in Durham?
Our Guide Score percentage combines weighted evidence from Google rating, review volume, web and contact presence, profile completeness, accreditation, press recognition, and years of operation, then normalizes across categories with captured positive evidence. There is no paid placement.
How much does daycare cost in Durham?
Childcare costs in Durham vary by program type and age group. Full-time infant care commonly ranges from $800–$2,500/month; preschool programs run $600–$1,800/month. Each center's profile page lists contact information for current rates.