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Childery

Best Daycares in Lakeland, FL — Independent Quality Ratings

Of Lakeland's 159 daycares, 93 (58%) hold a 4 or 5 star rating from Childery, below Florida's statewide rate of 77%. Locally, providers average 5.0 stars on Process inputs (state QRIS, NAEYC and other accreditation, federal Head Start CLASS scores) and 3.6 stars on Structural inputs (state regulatory baseline plus provider-level licensing data), compared with Florida averages of 5.0 on Process and 4.0 on Structural.

The local market includes 123 centers, 4 group child care homes, and 32 family child care homes.

Listed alphabetically below are some of the highest-rated providers in Lakeland. Childery ranks providers using publicly auditable inputs: state QRIS scores, NAEYC-aligned ratios and group sizes, and federal CCDBG training coverage. See the Florida methodology page for the full breakdown.

159
Daycares
93
4 or 5 Stars

Rating Distribution in Lakeland

29(18%)
64(40%)
42(26%)
23(14%)
1(1%)

Mean rating across all displayed daycares in Lakeland: 3.6 (Sample of 159).

Process rating across all displayed daycares in Lakeland: 5.0 (Sample of 8).

Structural rating across all displayed daycares in Lakeland: 3.6 (Sample of 159).

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Some of the Best Daycares in Lakeland

A Little Bit Of Heaven Child Enrichment Center
Lakeland, FL
★★★★★ 5 Stars
Bright Imaginations Kiddie College
Lakeland, FL
★★★★★ 5 Stars
Early Childhood Learning Center
Lakeland, FL
★★★★★ 5 Stars
First United Methodist Church Preschool
Lakeland, FL
★★★★★ 5 Stars
Head Of The Class Learning Center
Lakeland, FL
★★★★★ 5 Stars
LaPetite Academy Inc.
Lakeland, FL
★★★★★ 5 Stars
Little Wonders Academy
Lakeland, FL
★★★★★ 5 Stars
Northside Christian Preschool
Lakeland, FL
★★★★★ 5 Stars
Parkway Christian Academy
Lakeland, FL
★★★★★ 5 Stars
Polk County Schools - Carlton Palmore Elementary
Lakeland, FL
★★★★★ 5 Stars
Polk County Schools - Churchwell Elementary
Lakeland, FL
★★★★★ 5 Stars
Polk County Schools - CODE Academy
Lakeland, FL
★★★★★ 5 Stars

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many licensed daycares are in Lakeland?
There are 159 licensed child care providers in Lakeland.
What percentage of Lakeland daycares have high quality ratings?
58% of Lakeland daycares hold 4 or 5 stars on Childery's composite rating, compared to 77% statewide in Florida.
What types of childcare are available in Lakeland?
123 center-based, 36 home-based providers operate in Lakeland.
How do Lakeland daycares score on teaching quality compared to the rest of Florida?
Lakeland daycares average 5.0 out of 5 stars on Childery's Process score (teaching quality, QRIS ratings, and accreditations), compared to a Florida statewide average of 5.0.
Is there financial help for childcare in Florida?
Florida offers childcare subsidies and assistance programs for income-eligible families. See income limits, waitlist status, and how to apply.Childcare subsidies in Florida

All 159 Daycares in Lakeland

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