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Methodology

How Childery Rates District of Columbia Daycares

Updated May 2026.

Rating Distribution in District of Columbia

Childery shows 457 daycares in District of Columbia. Here's how their Overall Ratings break down.

367(80%)
70(15%)
3(1%)
3(1%)
14(3%)

Mean rating across all displayed daycares in District of Columbia: 4.69.

Process Quality

Childery's Process Rating for District of Columbia daycares averages metrics from District of Columbia's Quality Rating and Improvement System, National Accreditation Programs, and Federal Head Start Classroom Observation Scores. Missing metrics do not count against a provider.

  • DC Capital Quality

    DC Capital Quality ratings are determined by a program's performance on the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (emotional support, classroom organization, and instructional support), Infant/Toddler Environment Rating Scale, Family Child Care Environment Rating Scale, and a Continuous Quality Improvement Plan along with classroom observations conducted by trained assessors.

  • NAEYC Accreditation

    NAEYC accreditation is awarded after a provider demonstrates excellence across 9 standards (relationships with children within the classroom, family and community partnerships, curriculum, teaching, assessment, health, physical environment, educator professionalism, and program leadership) through both a document review and on-site classroom visit.

  • NAC Accreditation

    NAC accreditation is awarded after a provider demonstrates excellence across 7 component areas (administration, professional development, family engagement, curriculum, teacher-child interactions, and program- and classroom-level health and safety) through document review, on-site classroom observation, family and employee surveys, and interviews.

  • NECPA Accreditation

    NECPA accreditation is awarded after a provider demonstrates excellence across 4 categories (program administration, teacher-child interactions, curriculum and developmental program, and staff qualifications) through a self-study and improvement period followed by an on-site verification visit reviewing documentation and observing classrooms.

  • NAFCC Accreditation

    NAFCC accreditation is awarded after a home-based provider demonstrates excellence across 5 content areas (relationships, the environment, developmental learning activities, safety and health, and professional and business practices) through a self-study followed by an on-site observation visit with an educator interview.

  • Federal Head Start Classroom Observation Scores

    Head Start CLASS scores are produced for each center across 3 domains (emotional support, classroom organization, and instructional support) by trained federal observers.

Structural Quality

Childery's Structural Rating for District of Columbia daycares averages metrics from District of Columbia's licensing records and regulatory baseline, scored against NAEYC, NIEER, Federal Head Start, Federal CCDBG, or Childery benchmarks. Missing metrics do not count against a provider.

License Status
Childery Standard
  • Childery
    Active in Good Standing
    District of Columbia
    Varies by Provider
Child-to-Staff Ratios
NAEYC Standard
  • Infants
    NAEYC
    1:4
    District of Columbia
    1:4
  • Toddlers
    NAEYC
    1:6
    District of Columbia
    1:4
  • Preschool
    NAEYC
    1:10
    District of Columbia
    1:10
Group Sizes
NAEYC Standard
  • Infants
    NAEYC
    ≤8
    District of Columbia
    8
  • Toddlers
    NAEYC
    ≤12
    District of Columbia
    8
  • Preschool
    NAEYC
    ≤20
    District of Columbia
    20
Teacher Training
NAEYC/NIEER/Childery Standard
  • Lead Teacher Credential
    NAEYC/NIEER/Childery
    Bachelor's Degree
    District of Columbia
    Associate's Degree
  • Pre-Service
    NAEYC/NIEER/Childery
    ≥2,080 Hours
    District of Columbia
    Not Regulated
  • Ongoing Professional Development
    NAEYC/NIEER/Childery
    ≥25 Hours/Year
    District of Columbia
    21 Hours/Year
Health and Safety Training
Federal CCDBG Standard
  • Federal CCDBG
    First Aid
    District of Columbia
  • Federal CCDBG
    CPR
    District of Columbia
  • Federal CCDBG
    Reduction of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
    District of Columbia
  • Federal CCDBG
    Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases
    District of Columbia
  • Federal CCDBG
    Administration of Medication
    District of Columbia
  • Federal CCDBG
    Recognition and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect
    District of Columbia
  • Federal CCDBG
    Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome
    District of Columbia
  • Federal CCDBG
    Emergency Preparedness and Response Planning
    District of Columbia
  • Federal CCDBG
    Precautions in Transporting Children
    District of Columbia
  • Federal CCDBG
    Child Development
    District of Columbia
  • Federal CCDBG
    Building and Physical Premises Safety
    District of Columbia
  • Federal CCDBG
    Handling and Storage of Hazardous Materials
    District of Columbia
  • Federal CCDBG
    Food Emergencies
    District of Columbia

Additional Methodology Information

Need more help? Read frequently asked questions about how Childery rates daycares — covering what each star level means, why Process and Structural are separated, how missing signals are handled, and how to flag a record that looks incorrect.

View Methodology