Some of the Best Daycares in Columbia, SC
Of Columbia's 208 daycares, 19 (9%) hold a 4 or 5 star rating from Childery, above South Carolina's statewide rate of 6%. Locally, providers average 3.0 stars on Process inputs (state QRIS, NAEYC and other accreditation, federal Head Start CLASS scores) and 2.0 stars on Structural inputs (state regulatory baseline plus provider-level licensing data), compared with South Carolina averages of 2.9 on Process and 2.0 on Structural.
The local market includes 135 centers, 5 group child care homes, 63 family child care homes, and 5 license-exempt programs.
Listed alphabetically below are some of the highest-rated providers in Columbia. Childery ranks providers using publicly auditable inputs: state QRIS scores, NAEYC-aligned ratios and group sizes, and federal CCDBG training coverage. See the South Carolina methodology page for the full breakdown.
Rating Distribution in Columbia
Mean rating across all displayed daycares in Columbia: 2.5 (Sample of 208).
Process rating across all displayed daycares in Columbia: 3.0 (Sample of 126).
Structural rating across all displayed daycares in Columbia: 2.0 (Sample of 208).
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Some of the Best Daycares in Columbia
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many licensed daycares are in Columbia?
- There are 208 licensed child care providers in Columbia.
- What percentage of Columbia daycares have high quality ratings?
- 9% of Columbia daycares hold 4 or 5 stars on Childery's composite rating, compared to 6% statewide in South Carolina.
- What types of childcare are available in Columbia?
- 135 center-based, 68 home-based providers operate in Columbia.
- How do Columbia daycares score on teaching quality compared to the rest of South Carolina?
- Columbia daycares average 3.0 out of 5 stars on Childery's Process score (teaching quality, QRIS ratings, and accreditations), compared to a South Carolina statewide average of 2.9.
- Is there financial help for childcare in South Carolina?
- South Carolina offers childcare subsidies and assistance programs for income-eligible families. See income limits, waitlist status, and how to apply.Childcare subsidies in South Carolina