The Best After School Care in Grimes, IA
We graded 9 companies on seven things customers actually report: satisfaction, reliability, workmanship, value, momentum, track record and how owners handle complaints.
From 3,157 Google reviews of 45 top-rated after school care nationwide; 9 of them in Grimes, IA. Updated November 9, 2026.
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Best after school care in Grimes for educational services
Clear ✕Not enough reviews tagged “Educational services” in this city to rank companies yet.
Job match = this company’s ★ on reviews Google tagged “Educational services” (shrunk toward the category average when there are few), how many such jobs it has done, and its overall Experts Score.
What customers said about educational services
The Goddard School of WaukeeWe love Goddard. The teachers are incredible and really care about the development of their kids. SO happy this is where our little is learning everyday.
New Horizon AcademyLaura and staff are very accommodating. The facility is clean and any issues are communicated either through the app or phone call. Staff is always friendly and answer any questions we may have.
Overall ratings
Experts Score 0–100Experts Score (0–100)Absolute quality first: recency-weighted star average (≈54%), share of 1–2★ reviews (≈24%), customers’ price verdicts (≈14%), owner replies to critical reviews (≈7%); minus up to 10 points each for complaints flagged in Google review highlights and for a real slide in recent ratings. Hover a company’s score on its page for the full breakdown. and a letter grade per factor (A = top 20% of after school care).
| # | Company | ScoreExperts Score (0–100)Absolute quality first: recency-weighted star average (≈54%), share of 1–2★ reviews (≈24%), customers’ price verdicts (≈14%), owner replies to critical reviews (≈7%); minus up to 10 points each for complaints flagged in Google review highlights and for a real slide in recent ratings. Hover a company’s score on its page for the full breakdown. | FactorsFactor grades, in orderSatisfaction (54%): Recency-weighted star average (2-year half-life), shrunk toward the category mean by review volume; the company’s own lifetime average as the prior; absolute: 4.0★ = 0, 5★ = 100.Reliability (24%): How rarely jobs go badly: share of 1–2★ reviews — 60% the last 24 months (or the 20 newest if fewer), 40% all-time; 0% = 100, 15%+ = 0; the category percentile can only raise it.Craft & service (0%): Google review highlights: Quality, Professionalism, Responsiveness, Punctuality — how rarely reviewers flag them as a negative, per review since highlights began; 0% = 100, 5%+ = 0. Subtracted from the score (up to −10), never averaged in — clean highlights are the norm, not a bonus.Value (14%): Customers’ own price verdicts (Great / Reasonable vs Overpriced) and Value highlights; 65% absolute (all “reasonable” ≈ 80, “great” = 100), the category percentile can only raise it.Momentum (0%): Penalises only a real slide: last-12-month average below lifetime (−0.5★ = 0). Still 4.8★+ over the last year, or steady/improving = 100. Subtracted from the score (up to −10), never averaged in.Replies to reviews (7%): How often the owner publicly replies to reviews under 5★ (1–4★). Needs 3+ such reviews, otherwise not counted; 65% absolute (80%+ replied = 100), the category percentile can only raise it.One letter per factor score: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39, F = below 20. | ★Google star rating as shown on Google Maps. | Typical billMedian bill customers of this company reported in their reviews (needs 3+ priced reviews). |
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| 1 |  Cadence Academy PreschoolGrimes, IA | A 93How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 59%97+56.9Reliability 26%93+24.3Value 15%83+12.6Craft & service penalty90−1Experts Score= 93Not enough data for replies to reviews; its weight is shared by the others.Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | AAAAA– | 4.99 | — |
| 2 |  Yellow Brick Road Early Childhood Development CenterGrimes, IA | B 72How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 55%76+41.5Reliability 24%54+13.1Value 14%78+11Replies to reviews 7%91+6.4Experts Score= 72Grade B: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | BC–BAA | 4.78 | — |
| 3 | The Goddard School of WaukeeGrimes, IA | B 70How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 55%76+41.5Reliability 24%66+16Value 14%66+9.3Replies to reviews 7%95+6.7Craft & service penalty95−0.5Momentum penalty67−3.3Experts Score= 70Grade B: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | BBABBA | 4.78 | — |
| 4 | New Horizon AcademyGrimes, IA | B 69How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 55%73+39.8Reliability 24%59+14.3Value 14%78+11Replies to reviews 7%95+6.7Momentum penalty70−3Experts Score= 69Grade B: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | BC–BBA | 4.75 | — |
| 5 |  Hickman KinderCareGrimes, IA | B 69How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 55%77+42Reliability 24%69+16.7Value 14%44+6.2Replies to reviews 7%95+6.7Craft & service penalty95−0.5Momentum penalty80−2Experts Score= 69Grade B: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | BBACAA | 4.80 | — |
| 6 |  Tender Years Daycare & Learning Center 4Grimes, IA | B 63How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 55%62+33.8Reliability 24%63+15.3Value 14%90+12.7Replies to reviews 7%33+2.3Craft & service penalty89−1.1Experts Score= 63Grade B: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | BBAA–D | 4.68 | — |
| 7 |  Dorothy Mae Kids AcademyGrimes, IA | C 54How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 55%71+38.7Reliability 24%49+11.9Value 14%33+4.7Replies to reviews 7%33+2.3Momentum penalty60−4Experts Score= 54Grade C: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | BC–DBD | 4.71 | — |
| 8 |  Kiddie Academy of UrbandaleGrimes, IA | C 48How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 64%50+31.8Reliability 28%28+7.9Replies to reviews 8%95+7.8Experts Score= 48Not enough data for value; its weight is shared by the others.Grade C: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | CD––AA | 4.52 | — |
| 9 |  Johnston KinderCareGrimes, IA | D 29How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 55%48+26.2Reliability 24%23+5.6Value 14%1+0.1Replies to reviews 7%95+6.7Craft & service penalty0−10Experts Score= 29Grade D: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | CDFF–A | 4.45 | — |
What jobs cost
What customers paid, from the price Google asks reviewers to report.
| Job | Low25th percentile: 1 in 4 customers paid less than this. | TypicalMedian of the bill customers reported in their Google review (Google asks reviewers for a price range; we use the middle of each range). | High75th percentile: 1 in 4 customers paid more than this. | FairOf customers who rated the price, the share who chose “Great price” or “Reasonable” rather than “Overpriced”. |
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After School Care in Grimes, IA at a glance
How the 9 after school care we rated in Grimes, IA compare, and what customers praise most.
Experts Score grades
A = score 80+, F = below 20.
- Grade A111%
- Grade B556%
- Grade C222%
- Grade D111%
- Grade F00%
Google ratings
Average stars per company.
- 4.90★ and up111%
- 4.80–4.89★111%
- 4.60–4.79★556%
- Below 4.60★222%
What customers praise
Share of Google review highlights.
- Quality15929%
- Professionalism16730%
- Responsiveness11220%
- Punctuality10%
- Value11421%
Was the price fair?
All price verdicts left with reviews.
- Great price6031%
- Reasonable12363%
- Overpriced84%
- Not sure53%
Price verdicts by year
Share calling it great / reasonable / overpriced.
How we grade
Satisfaction (54%) — Recency-weighted star average (2-year half-life), shrunk toward the category mean by review volume; the company’s own lifetime average as the prior; absolute: 4.0★ = 0, 5★ = 100.
Reliability (24%) — How rarely jobs go badly: share of 1–2★ reviews — 60% the last 24 months (or the 20 newest if fewer), 40% all-time; 0% = 100, 15%+ = 0; the category percentile can only raise it.
Craft & service (penalty, up to −10) — Google review highlights: Quality, Professionalism, Responsiveness, Punctuality — how rarely reviewers flag them as a negative, per review since highlights began; 0% = 100, 5%+ = 0. Subtracted from the score (up to −10), never averaged in — clean highlights are the norm, not a bonus.
Value (14%) — Customers’ own price verdicts (Great / Reasonable vs Overpriced) and Value highlights; 65% absolute (all “reasonable” ≈ 80, “great” = 100), the category percentile can only raise it.
Momentum (penalty, up to −10) — Penalises only a real slide: last-12-month average below lifetime (−0.5★ = 0). Still 4.8★+ over the last year, or steady/improving = 100. Subtracted from the score (up to −10), never averaged in.
Replies to reviews (7%) — How often the owner publicly replies to reviews under 5★ (1–4★). Needs 3+ such reviews, otherwise not counted; 65% absolute (80%+ replied = 100), the category percentile can only raise it.