10 Best Daycares in Raleigh, NC

Daycares in Raleigh 

Are you searching for the best daycares in Raleigh, NC? Here are ten great daycares in Raleigh! 

Daycares benefit children in many ways. Raleigh and the surrounding Triangle area are home to top-rated daycare and childcare facilities where your children will feel safe and comfortable. 

Children in childcare get to socialize with other children their age, and they can also make friends, develop essential life skills, and improve their cognitive development. 

Promoting health and learning through classroom and physical activities, children who attend daycare during the most formative years of their lives tend to experience better school readiness, higher self-esteem, lower dropout rates, and better employment prospects as they get older. 

Today, the majority of parents decide to enroll their children in childcare during the first year of their life. In fact, 72% of infants experience some form of nonparental childcare before turning one. 

The city of Raleigh is a very family-friendly place to live with fun things to do for all ages, and many parents who work need childcare for their young children. With many excellent daycare facilities in the area, deciding where to send your children before they go to public or private school can be challenging. 

Check out these top daycares in the Raleigh area 

1. The Goddard School of Cary 

Address: 1177 NW Maynard Road, Cary, NC 27513 

Phone Number: (919) 466-0008 

Hours: 7 AM to 6 PM, Monday through Friday 

The Goddard School of Cary is a highly rated and highly reviewed private preschool that is more than just a daycare. It provides five-star childcare to infants, toddlers, and pre-kindergarten children. 

A franchise, The Goddard School, has locations nationwide, two specifically in Cary, four in Raleigh, and others all over the Triangle. This Goddard School location is best known for its excellent teachers and administrators who genuinely care about the children and their early childhood development. 

Located in the heart of Cary, a family-friendly and very safe place to live, The Goddard School of Cary is committed to children's health, safety, and education by creating a fun and nurturing environment. 

Call the office or fill out a form online to book a tour today. You can learn more about the school and determine whether it is a good fit for your children. 

2. Cornerstone Learning Center 

Address: 9725 Fayetteville Road, Raleigh, NC 27603 

Phone Number: (919) 557-6776 

Hours: 7 AM to 6 PM, Monday through Friday 

Cornerstone Learning Center is one of the best daycare centers in Raleigh and is known for its warm and caring environment. Located off of U.S. Route 401, it is near Downtown Fuquay-Varina, a growing Raleigh suburb. 

Cornerstone Learning Center is a Christian-based daycare devoted to children's health, safety, and well-being. It provides a positive environment for all children, from infants to toddlers. 

All staff members are dedicated and trained to provide a safe and nurturing atmosphere where all children grow mentally, emotionally, socially, physically, and spiritually. The curriculum at Cornerstone Learning Center includes the WEE Learn Curriculum in infants through three-year-old classrooms and the Abeka Curriculum in four and five-year-old classrooms. 

3. Little Hearts Academy 

Address: 3933 New Bern Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27604 

Phone Number: (252) 288-7842 

Hours: Open 24 hours Monday through Friday,  8 AM to 4 PM Saturday, and closed Sunday 

Little Hearts Academy is a highly rated 24-hour daycare in Raleigh. It offers a state-approved curriculum and classroom cameras to ensure a safe environment. This licensed family daycare center provides healthy meals and snacks throughout the day and offers affordable care for all children. 

Little Hearts Academy was founded on the belief that every child is unique and deserving of love. It provides a safe and fun environment for kids to be creative and learn. Primarily focusing on math, science, literacy, and social development, care is available at all hours for children from birth to age 13. 

4. Little Makers Academy 

Address: 2801 S Wilmington Street, Raleigh, NC 27603 

Phone Number: (919) 615-2288 

Hours: 7 AM to 6 PM, Monday through Friday 

Little Makers Academy is a fun, education-based childcare center in Downtown Raleigh that provides a safe, learning-focused environment for children to grow and flourish. Providing customized corporate childcare solutions, Little Makers Academy offers drop-in care, full-day childcare, and half-day preschool options. 

With over 35 years of experience as public school teachers, all staff and administrators at Little Makers Academy are dedicated to your children's health, well-being, and success. Offering a STEAM-based preschool curriculum, educational programs at this daycare center will cover science, technology, engineering, arts, and math topics. 

5. Creative Kidz Academy 

Address: 8408 Strickland Road, Raleigh, NC 27615 

Phone Number: (919) 841-5707 

Hours: 7 AM to 6 PM, Monday through Friday 

Creative Kidz Academy is a small, privately owned daycare center in Wake County that offers full-time care, certified preschool classes, before-and-after care and transportation, track-out camps, and summer camps. 

Aiming to provide the highest quality care for children from six weeks to 12, Creative Kidz Academy works to meet each child's independent needs by providing a safe space for children to build friendships, gain confidence, develop social skills, and learn how to be creative. 

Admission requirements for enrollment include a signed and completed application, a detailed feeding schedule, a medical exam that a physician signs, a current shot record, a discipline and behavior management form, and signed documentation of childcare laws. 

6. Highwoods Parks KinderCare 

Address: 3129 Poplarwood Court, Raleigh, NC 27604 

Phone Number: (919) 850-0234 

Hours: 7 AM to 6 PM, Monday through Friday 

Highwoods Park KinderCare is a Raleigh daycare center in a corporate park near Capital Boulevard. Serving infants and toddlers from six weeks to five years, this great Raleigh daycare center aims to create a fun and safe environment in which your child will thrive while learning, exploring, and creating. 

Offering affordable pricing for families and flexible scheduling, it is easy to see why so many parents love sending their kids to Highwoods Parks KinderCare. Financial assistance is also provided for eligible families. 

All classrooms must be safe, clean, and healthy, crucial to creating an environment where children can grow and develop. Teachers at Highwoods Parks KinderCare are passionate about their jobs and care about each child. 

7. Children's Lighthouse of Raleigh 

Address: 13401 Leesville Church Road, Raleigh, NC 27617 

Phone Number: (919) 758-8574 

Hours: 7 AM to 6 PM, Monday through Friday 

Children's Lighthouse has five locations throughout the Triangle: one in Raleigh, two in Apex, one in Holly Springs, and one in Cary. This makes it a very convenient and friendly daycare center to send your kids to. 

This premier early-learning school is family-owned and operated and provides top-of-the-line care for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Perfect for ages six weeks to 12 years, Children's Lighthouse of Raleigh provides age-appropriate playgrounds and secure keypad entry and teaches kids a CARES values-based curriculum. 

You can schedule a tour today to learn more about Children's Lighthouse's approach to learning and programs offered for children. 

8. SPANISH FOR FUN! Duraleigh 

Address: 5600 Duraleigh Road, Raleigh, NC 27612 

Phone Number: (919) 937-2050 

Hours: 7 AM to 6 PM, Monday through Friday 

Are you looking for a Spanish immersion childcare center in Raleigh? Look no further than SPANISH FOR FUN! Duraleigh is a premier five-star childcare center that offers students a chance to become bilingual by learning Spanish in a natural and fun environment. 

For children between six weeks and two years old, SPANISH FOR FUN! Duraleigh combines the Spanish immersion curriculum, international curriculum, and the early education creative curriculum of North Carolina to create a learning environment where children are encouraged to learn at their own pace and on their terms in a supportive atmosphere. 

Before applying, you can call today or schedule a tour online to learn more about the program and the daycare center's offerings. 

9. Copperfield Road KinderCare 

Address: 2300 Spring Forest Road, Raleigh, NC 27615 

Phone Number: (919) 954-7662 

Hours: 6:30 AM to 6 PM, Monday through Friday 

Copperfield Road KinderCare is located on Spring Forest Road in Raleigh and is the perfect daycare center for parents looking for a safe and supportive environment to send their kids during the day. Best known for its comfortable and welcoming atmosphere, dedicated staff members, and engaging learning opportunities, it is no wonder that Copperfield Road KinderCare is considered one of the best daycares in Raleigh. 

This daycare center provides programs for children from six weeks to five years of age, so there are plenty of opportunities for kids to learn, develop, grow, and gain confidence. 

Affordable pricing, flexible scheduling, and financial assistance are available for eligible families. 

10. Bright Beginnings Child Development Center 

Address: 123 Bright Beginning Way, Cary, NC 27519 

Phone Number: (919) 367-0009

Hours: 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM, Monday through Friday 

Bright Beginnings Child Development Center is a popular daycare center in Cary. This family-owned business offers full-time child care for children aged three months to five years and is a safe place for kids to learn and grow while their parents are at work. 

Offering early education and enrichment, this five-star childcare facility has been serving the Triangle area and caring for children since its opening in 2000. With the goal to jumpstart a child's learning potential, Bright Beginnings Child Development Center focuses on literacy, art, early academics, physical education, and social skills. 

FAQs 

What is the average cost of daycare in North Carolina? 

Daycare is a significant expense that families have to pay; in some cases, it even exceeds the cost of college tuition. It is estimated that childcare costs an average of $9,480 a year in North Carolina, which is almost $800 a month. 

How many days of daycare is best? 

The number of days spent in daycare largely depends on age, but experts believe that two to three days per week is ideal. This allows children to build relationships, refine social interactions, and learn cooperation skills. 

What is the best age for daycare? 

The best age to send a child to daycare is to wait until they are at least 12 months old for part-time care and at least four years old for full-time care. 

Methodology 

To determine the best daycare facilities in Raleigh, NC, data and information were sourced from local daycare facilities, ABC 11 Eyewitness News, and the National Library of Medicine. 

Best Daycares in Raleigh, NC - Final Thoughts 

It can be hard to choose a daycare center when so many good ones offer quality care and a nurturing environment for learning and creativity. Before enrolling your children, schedule a tour and learn what curriculum the daycare center teaches. Once you find one that meets your standards and price range, go forward with the application. 

If you live in Raleigh or want to move to the area for its daycare centers and educational opportunities, Raleigh Realty's experts can help you find your dream home.