Best Daycares in Durham, NC — Independent Quality Ratings
Of Durham's 224 daycares, 130 (58%) hold a 4 or 5 star rating from Childery, below North Carolina's statewide rate of 62%. Locally, providers average 4.2 stars on Process inputs (state QRIS, NAEYC and other accreditation, federal Head Start CLASS scores) and 1.9 stars on Structural inputs (state regulatory baseline plus provider-level licensing data), compared with North Carolina averages of 4.2 on Process and 2.1 on Structural.
The local market includes 139 centers and 85 family child care homes, a higher home-based share than North Carolina's average of 20%.
Listed alphabetically below are some of the highest-rated providers in Durham. Childery ranks providers using publicly auditable inputs: state QRIS scores, NAEYC-aligned ratios and group sizes, and federal CCDBG training coverage. See the North Carolina methodology page for the full breakdown.
224
Daycares
130
4 or 5 Stars
Rating Distribution in Durham
19(8%)
111(50%)
76(34%)
10(4%)
8(4%)
Mean rating across all displayed daycares in Durham: 3.5 (Sample of 224).
Process rating across all displayed daycares in Durham: 4.2 (Sample of 209).
Structural rating across all displayed daycares in Durham: 1.9 (Sample of 224).
Search daycares in Durham
Browse by ZIP
Some of the Best Daycares in Durham
A New Beginning Iv
Durham, NC
★★★★★ 5 Stars
A New Beginning V
Durham, NC
★★★★★ 5 Stars
ABC Honey Bees Learning Center
Durham, NC
★★★★★ 5 Stars
Beacon Learning Academy Rtp
Durham, NC
★★★★★ 5 Stars
Childcare Network #166
Durham, NC
★★★★★ 5 Stars
Christian Prep Academy, Inc
Durham, NC
★★★★★ 5 Stars
Duke Children's Campus
Durham, NC
★★★★★ 5 Stars
Early Start Academy
Durham, NC
★★★★★ 5 Stars
Early Start Academy II
Durham, NC
★★★★★ 5 Stars
Los Globitos Home Day Care
Durham, NC
★★★★★ 5 Stars
Oak Grove Sac Club
Durham, NC
★★★★★ 5 Stars
Paradise Escapades
Durham, NC
★★★★★ 5 Stars
Other cities in North Carolina
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many licensed daycares are in Durham?
- There are 224 licensed child care providers in Durham.
- What percentage of Durham daycares have high quality ratings?
- 58% of Durham daycares hold 4 or 5 stars on Childery's composite rating, compared to 62% statewide in North Carolina.
- What types of childcare are available in Durham?
- 139 center-based, 85 home-based providers operate in Durham.
- How do Durham daycares score on teaching quality compared to the rest of North Carolina?
- Durham daycares average 4.2 out of 5 stars on Childery's Process score (teaching quality, QRIS ratings, and accreditations), compared to a North Carolina statewide average of 4.2.
- Is there financial help for childcare in North Carolina?
- North Carolina offers childcare subsidies and assistance programs for income-eligible families. See income limits, waitlist status, and how to apply.Childcare subsidies in North Carolina
All 224 Daycares in Durham
A
- A Brilliant Beginning
- A Child's Garden Childcare
- A New Beginning
- A New Beginning Ii
- A New Beginning Iii
- A New Beginning Iv
- A New Beginning V
- ABC Honey Bees Learning Center
- Abundant Love Christian Daycare
- Academy of Stars
- Al-Huda Academy
- All My Children Child Care Center
- All My Children Child Care Center
- Ameenah's Learning Center
- Angel Care Academy, Inc.
- Angie's Angels Daycare Center
- Another Beautiful Beginnings Child Care Center
- Art_bee Home Day Care
B
- Babs Lil' Angels
- Beacon Learning Academy Rtp
- Bethesda Sac Club
- Big World Little People Child Care
- Branches Community School
- Bright & Beautiful Beginnings
- Bright Horizons at North Durham
- Bright Horizons at Rtp
- Brighter Minds Childcare
- Broad Street Children's Cottage
- Brown's Early Learning School
- Bryson Christian Montessori School Ii
- Bryson Christian Montessori School Iii
- Burton Elementary School
- Butterfly Kisses Academy
C
- C.c. Spaulding Elementary Pre-K
- Calvary Baptist Church Child Care Ministry
- Care Bear Home Day Care
- Casita Spanish
- Childcare Network #166
- Childcare Network #57
- Childcare Network #58
- Children First, Inc.
- Children Our Heritage Daycare Inc
- Children's Campus at Southpoint
- Christian Prep Academy, Inc
- Club Blvd Sac Club
- Cokoa's Curiosity Center
- Creative Care Early Learning Academy
- Creative Minds Child Care
- Creekside Sac Club
- Cresset Christian Academy Pre-School
- Cynthia's Little People
D
E
F
G
H
K
L
- La Petite Academy Highgate
- La Petite Academy, Inc. Hwy 98
- Lakewood Ave Children's School
- Lakewood Elementary School
- Lakewood Sac Club
- Learning Jungle Hope Valley
- Leathers Meachem Head Start
- Legacy Child Enrichment Center
- Liberty Baptist Day Care
- Lightbridge Academy of Durham
- Lil Explorers Learning Center
- Lil Folks Daycare
- Linking Connections Learning Center
- Little Angels Child Development Center
- Little Angels Daycare
- Little Engine Academy @ Bragtown
- Little Kidz Preschool
- Little Learners Day Care Center
- Little River Sac Club
- Little Sprouts Child Care
- Little Star Day Care
- Little Wonders Child Care Services
- Los Globitos Home Day Care
- Love and Joy Child Academy
- Love, Laugh and Learning Home Childcare Center
- Loving, Caring and Sharing
- Lyon Park Head Start
- Lyons Farm Elementary School
M
P
S
- Sandy Ridge Elementary Pre-K
- Sandy Ridge Sac Club
- Serenity Childcare Collective
- Sharon Winston Family Daycare Home
- Small Wonders Day Care
- Smiling Faces Academy
- Solecitos Home Daycare
- Southside Econo Care Home
- Spanish for Fun! Durham
- Spanish Learning Center of Durham
- Spring Valley Elementary Pre-K
- Stepping Stone Academy
- Success Corner Home Daycare
- Sugar N Spice Day Care Home
- Sugars Babies
- Sunny Side Child Development Center
- Sunshine Smiles Academy
T
- Talentos Giraffe School
- Tender Tots Day Care
- Tendercare Learning Center
- The Asbury Preschool
- The Goddard School
- The Goode Crew
- The Jungle of Learning
- The Learning Circle
- The Learning Experience
- The Little School at Duke
- The Playhouse Early Academy
- The Woodcroft School
- Think Child Care Center
- THOP Christian Academy Preschool
- Through Faith Family Child Care Home
- Tiff's Bud's & Blossoms Daycare
- Timeless Treasures Home Daycare
- Tiny Treasures Learning Academy
- Toddler's Academy, Inc.
- Treasurable Moments Early Learning Program, Llc
- Treasures of Joy Christian Learning Center Inc.
- True Colors In-Home Childcare
V
W