Best Daycares in North Carolina — 2026 Rankings

We ranked 200 daycares and childcare centers across 2 cities in North Carolina.

Top Daycares in North Carolina

  1. #1 — St Stephen Preschool Score: 86%

    Charlotte, NC — St Stephen Preschool is a childcare center in Charlotte, NC. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: http://www.ststephenumc.net/.

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

  2. #2 — FOR Kids Preschool Score: 86%

    Matthews, NC — FOR Kids Preschool is a childcare center in Matthews, NC. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: http://www.forkidspreschool.com/.

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

  3. #3 — Mallard Creek Presbyterian Church Preschool Score: 86%

    Charlotte, NC — Mallard Creek Presbyterian Church Preschool is a childcare center in Charlotte, NC. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: http://www.mallardcreekchurch.org/.

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

  4. #4 — Children of the World Learning Center Score: 86%

    Charlotte, NC — Children of the World Learning Center is a childcare center in Charlotte, NC. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: https://linktr.ee/cotwlc.

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

  5. #5 — Stepping Stones Preschool Score: 86%

    Harrisburg, NC — Stepping Stones Preschool is a childcare center in Harrisburg, NC. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: http://harrisburgumc.org/.

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

  6. #6 — The Goddard School of Charlotte (Mallard Creek) Score: 86%

    Charlotte, NC — The Goddard School of Charlotte (Mallard Creek) is a childcare center in Charlotte, NC. Programs include Preschool, child care and day care, school, education. Website:…

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

  7. #7 — Children's Place of Macedonia Baptist Church Score: 86%

    Cary, NC — Children's Place of Macedonia Baptist Church is a childcare center in Cary, NC. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: http://thechildrensplacepreschool.org/.

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

  8. #8 — Afreya's Play Ground Score: 86%

    Durham, NC — 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 →

  9. #9 — spanish for fun! Score: 86%

    Cary, NC — spanish for fun! is a childcare center in Cary, NC. Programs include Preschool. Website: http://www.spanishforfun.com.

    Programs: Preschool. View full profile →

  10. #10 — Triangle Montessori Academy Score: 86%

    Cary, NC — Triangle Montessori Academy is a childcare center in Cary, NC. Programs include Preschool, private school, elementary school. Website: http://www.trianglemontessori.org/.

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

  11. #11 — Children's Discovery Center Score: 86%

    Raleigh, NC — Children's Discovery Center is a childcare center in Raleigh, NC. Programs include Preschool, day care preschool, home service. Website: http://www.casparpark.com/.

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

  12. #12 — Canterbury Kids Score: 86%

    Winston-Salem, NC — Canterbury Kids is a childcare center in Winston-Salem, NC. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: https://canterbury-kids.com/.

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

  13. #13 — Ivybrook Academy Score: 86%

    Winston-Salem, NC — Ivybrook Academy is a childcare center in Winston-Salem, NC. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: http://www.ivybrookacademy.com/winston-salem.

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

  14. #14 — Ardmore Methodist TTWS Score: 86%

    Winston-Salem, NC — Ardmore Methodist TTWS is a childcare center in Winston-Salem, NC. Programs include Preschool, day care preschool. Website: https://ardmoreumc.org/preschool.

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

  15. #15 — Guilford Park Preschool Score: 86%

    Greensboro, NC — Guilford Park Preschool is a childcare center in Greensboro, NC. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: http://www.guilfordpark.org/preschool.html.

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

  16. #16 — Mt. Pisgah Weekday School Score: 86%

    Greensboro, NC — Mt. Pisgah Weekday School is a childcare center in Greensboro, NC. Programs include Preschool, private school, school. Website: http://mpws.org/.

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

  17. #17 — Butterfly Kisses Academy Score: 86%

    Durham, NC — 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 →

  18. #18 — Early Start Academy Score: 86%

    Durham, NC — 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 →

  19. #19 — Durham PreK Score: 86%

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

    Programs: Preschool. View full profile →

  20. #20 — Estes Children's Cottage Score: 86%

    Chapel Hill, NC — Estes Children's Cottage is a childcare center in Chapel Hill, NC. Programs include Preschool, day care preschool, home service. Website: http://www.esteschildrenscottage.com/.

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

Top cities in North Carolina

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

What is the best daycare in North Carolina?
St Stephen Preschool is currently the #1 ranked daycare in North Carolina based on our Guide Score. See the full statewide ranked list above.
How many daycares are ranked in North Carolina?
We have ranked 200 daycares and childcare centers across 2 cities in North Carolina. Rankings are computed by Guide Score and updated regularly.