Best Daycares in Waterville, ME — Independent Quality Ratings
Of Waterville's 19 daycares, 5 (26%) hold a 4 or 5 star rating from Childery, matching Maine's statewide rate of 27%. Locally, providers average 3.4 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 13 centers and 5 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 Waterville. 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 Waterville
Mean rating across all displayed daycares in Waterville: 3.5 (Sample of 19).
Process rating across all displayed daycares in Waterville: 3.4 (Sample of 19).
Structural rating across all displayed daycares in Waterville: 4.0 (Sample of 19).
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Some of the Best Daycares in Waterville
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Frequently Asked Questions
- How many licensed daycares are in Waterville?
- There are 19 licensed child care providers in Waterville.
- What percentage of Waterville daycares have high quality ratings?
- 26% of Waterville daycares hold 4 or 5 stars on Childery's composite rating, compared to 27% statewide in Maine.
- What types of childcare are available in Waterville?
- 13 center-based, 5 home-based providers operate in Waterville.
- How do Waterville daycares score on teaching quality compared to the rest of Maine?
- Waterville daycares average 3.4 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