Best Daycares in Lakeland, FL — 2026 Rankings

We ranked 26 daycares and childcare centers in Lakeland based on licensing, accreditation, parent reviews, and childcare quality.

Top Daycares in Lakeland

  1. #1 — Covenant Presbyterian Child Development Center Score: 86%

    Covenant Presbyterian Child Development Center is a childcare center in Lakeland, FL. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: http://covenantcdc.org/.

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

  2. #2 — Little Shepherds Preschool Score: 86%

    Little Shepherds Preschool is a childcare center in Lakeland, FL. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: http://fpclakeland.org.

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

  3. #3 — First Steps Education Lakeland, LLC Score: 86%

    First Steps Education Lakeland, LLC is a childcare center in Lakeland, FL. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: http://Firststepseducation.com/.

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

  4. #4 — First Steps Preschool Score: 86%

    First Steps Preschool is a childcare center in Lakeland, FL. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: http://www.firstumc.org/.

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

  5. #5 — PCPS Early Childhood Score: 83%

    PCPS Early Childhood is a childcare center in Lakeland, FL. Programs include Preschool. Website: http://www.polkschoolsfl.com/earlychildhood.

    Programs: Preschool. View full profile →

  6. #6 — Kid's Town Preschool Score: 80%

    Kid's Town Preschool is a childcare center in Lakeland, FL. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: http://kidstownbrunswick.com.

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

  7. #7 — Pathway of Lakeland Score: 77%

    Pathway of Lakeland is a childcare center in Lakeland, FL. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: http://www.yourtrinitylifechurch.org/.

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

  8. #8 — Montessori Preschool of Lakeland Score: 71%

    Montessori Preschool of Lakeland is a childcare center in Lakeland, FL. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: http://www.lakelandweb.net/montessori/.

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

  9. #9 — Southside Learning Center Score: 71%

    Southside Learning Center is a childcare center in Lakeland, FL. Programs include Preschool, day care preschool, home service. Website: http://www.southsidelearningcenter.com.

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

  10. #10 — Taylor Learning Center Score: 71%

    Taylor Learning Center is a childcare center in Lakeland, FL. Programs include Preschool, day care preschool, home service. Website: http://lakelandchildcare.com/.

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

  11. #11 — hands and hearts in motion Score: 71%

    hands and hearts in motion is a childcare center in Lakeland, FL. Programs include Preschool. Website: http://www.handsandhearts.net.

    Programs: Preschool. View full profile →

  12. #12 — Golden Gate Preparatory Academy Score: 71%

    Golden Gate Preparatory Academy is a childcare center in Lakeland, FL. Programs include Preschool, home service, school. Website: http://ggprepacademy.com.

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

  13. #13 — Beacon Hill Preschool Score: 71%

    Beacon Hill Preschool is a childcare center in Lakeland, FL. Programs include Preschool, home service, private school. Website: http://www.beaconhillpreschool.com/.

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

  14. #14 — Dawson's Learning Academy Score: 69%

    Dawson's Learning Academy is a childcare center in Lakeland, FL. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: http://Dawsonslearning.com/.

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

  15. #15 — Precious Children in the Highlands Preschool Score: 69%

    Precious Children in the Highlands Preschool is a childcare center in Lakeland, FL. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: http://www.pchighlands.com/preschool.

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

  16. #16 — Revive Academy Preschool Score: 69%

    Revive Academy Preschool is a childcare center in Lakeland, FL. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: https://www.revivechurchlakeland.com/revive-academy.

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

  17. #17 — FWC Preschool Score: 69%

    FWC Preschool is a childcare center in Lakeland, FL. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: http://fwclakeland.org/fwcpreschool.

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

  18. #18 — Bliss Preschool Score: 69%

    Bliss Preschool is a childcare center in Lakeland, FL. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: http://www.blisspreschool.com/.

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

  19. #19 — Taylor Learning Center Inc Score: 60%

    Taylor Learning Center Inc is a childcare center in Lakeland, FL. Programs include Preschool, child care and day care, school, education. Website: http://www.lakelandchildcare.com/.

    Programs: Preschool, Child care and day care, School, Education. View full profile →

  20. #20 — My Little House Learning Center Score: 49%

    My Little House Learning Center is a childcare center in Lakeland, FL. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool.

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

  21. #21 — All Aboard Learning Station Score: 49%

    All Aboard Learning Station is a childcare center in Lakeland, FL. Programs include Preschool, day care preschool, home service.

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

  22. #22 — Sheris Learning Thru Love Score: 49%

    Sheris Learning Thru Love is a childcare center in Lakeland, FL. Programs include Preschool, private school, home service.

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

  23. #23 — Destined for Greatness Preschool Score: 37%

    Destined for Greatness Preschool is a childcare center in Lakeland, FL. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool.

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

  24. #24 — First Pentecostal Learning Center Preschool Score: 37%

    First Pentecostal Learning Center Preschool is a childcare center in Lakeland, FL. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool.

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

  25. #25 — First Steps Education Preschool Punta Gorda Score: 37%

    First Steps Education Preschool Punta Gorda is a childcare center in Lakeland, FL. Programs include Preschool, day care preschool.

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

  26. #26 — Educare Early Learning Center Score: 37%

    Educare Early Learning Center is a childcare center in Lakeland, FL. Programs include Preschool, school, education.

    Programs: Preschool, School, Education. 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 Lakeland?
Covenant Presbyterian Child Development Center is currently the #1 ranked daycare in Lakeland 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 Lakeland?
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 Lakeland?
Childcare costs in Lakeland 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.