Some of the Best Daycares in Portland, ME
Of Portland's 50 daycares, 20 (40%) hold a 4 or 5 star rating from Childery, above Maine's statewide rate of 27%. Locally, providers average 3.5 stars on Process inputs (state QRIS, NAEYC and other accreditation, federal Head Start CLASS scores) and 4.0 stars on Structural inputs (state regulatory baseline plus provider-level licensing data), compared with Maine averages of 3.3 on Process and 4.0 on Structural.
The local market includes 34 centers and 15 family child care homes, a lower home-based share than Maine's average of 44%.
Listed alphabetically below are some of the highest-rated providers in Portland. Childery ranks providers using publicly auditable inputs: state QRIS scores, NAEYC-aligned ratios and group sizes, and federal CCDBG training coverage. See the Maine methodology page for the full breakdown.
Rating Distribution in Portland
Mean rating across all displayed daycares in Portland: 3.6 (Sample of 50).
Process rating across all displayed daycares in Portland: 3.5 (Sample of 50).
Structural rating across all displayed daycares in Portland: 4.0 (Sample of 50).
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Some of the Best Daycares in Portland
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many licensed daycares are in Portland?
- There are 50 licensed child care providers in Portland.
- What percentage of Portland daycares have high quality ratings?
- 40% of Portland daycares hold 4 or 5 stars on Childery's composite rating, compared to 27% statewide in Maine.
- What types of childcare are available in Portland?
- 34 center-based, 15 home-based providers operate in Portland.
- How do Portland daycares score on teaching quality compared to the rest of Maine?
- Portland daycares average 3.5 out of 5 stars on Childery's Process score (teaching quality, QRIS ratings, and accreditations), compared to a Maine statewide average of 3.3.
- Is there financial help for childcare in Maine?
- Maine offers childcare subsidies and assistance programs for income-eligible families. See income limits, waitlist status, and how to apply.Childcare subsidies in Maine