Best Daycares in Portland, ME — Independent Quality Ratings
Of Portland's 94 daycares, 38 (40%) hold a 4 or 5 star rating from Childery, above Maine's statewide rate of 27%. Locally, providers average 3.6 stars on Process inputs (state QRIS, NAEYC and other accreditation, federal Head Start CLASS scores) and 4.4 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 66 centers and 25 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 94).
Process rating across all displayed daycares in Portland: 3.6 (Sample of 94).
Structural rating across all displayed daycares in Portland: 4.4 (Sample of 94).
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Some of the Best Daycares in Portland
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Frequently Asked Questions
- How many licensed daycares are in Portland?
- There are 94 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?
- 66 center-based, 25 home-based providers operate in Portland.
- How do Portland daycares score on teaching quality compared to the rest of Maine?
- Portland daycares average 3.6 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
All 94 Daycares in Portland
- Gentle Wings
- Gentle Wings
- Glickman Lauder Ctr. Of Excellence In Autism & Developmental Disorders
- Glickman Lauder Ctr. Of Excellence In Autism & Developmental Disorders
- Goldman Family Preschool
- Goldman Family Preschool
- Growing Learners At Stevens Square
- Growing Learners At Stevens Square
- Growing Learners Child Care Center
- Growing Learners Child Care Center
- The Academy For Active Learners LLC
- The Academy For Active Learners LLC
- The Children's Center - Portland
- The Children's Center-Minis
- The Children's Nursery School
- The Childrens Center - Portland
- The Childrens Center-Minis
- The Levey Day SchoolTrina Carroll
- The Levey Day SchoolTrina Carroll
- The Opportuinity Alliance- East End
- The Opportuinity Alliance- East End
- The Opportunity Alliance- Riverton Center
- The Opportunity Alliance- Riverton Center
- Trinity Day School
- Trinity Day School