Analyzing 7,203,8127.2M ReviewsFor 20,40220.4K Experts
We graded 6 companies on seven things customers actually report: satisfaction, reliability, workmanship, value, momentum, track record and how owners handle complaints.
From 2,718 Google reviews of 36 top-rated after school care nationwide; 6 of them in Grand Forks, ND. Updated November 2, 2026.
Pick the job — we re-rank companies by how customers rated that exact job.
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 |  All About Kids Inc.Grand Forks, ND | A 89How 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%92+54Reliability 26%92+24Value 15%83+12.6Craft & service penalty88−1.2Experts Score= 89Not 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. | AAAA–– | 4.97 | — |
| 2 |  United Way of Grand Forks, East Grand Forks & AreaGrand Forks, ND | B 75How 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%74+47Reliability 28%92+26Replies to reviews 8%21+1.7Experts Score= 75Not enough data for value; its weight is shared by the others.Grade B: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | BA––AD | 4.68 | — |
| 3 |  University Children's CenterGrand Forks, ND | 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 69%75+51.9Reliability 31%69+21.2Craft & service penalty86−1.4Experts Score= 72Not enough data for value, replies to reviews; its weight is shared by the others.Grade B: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | BBA––– | 4.76 | — |
| 4 |  Stay & Play Pet Resort and SpaGrand Forks, ND | B 68How 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%72+39.3Reliability 24%60+14.5Value 14%99+14Replies to reviews 7%29+2.1Craft & service penalty82−1.8Experts Score= 68Grade B: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | BBAAAD | 4.67 | — |
| 5 |  Wonder YearsGrand Forks, ND | B 60How 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%70+44.5Reliability 28%48+13.6Replies to reviews 8%27+2.2Experts Score= 60Not enough data for value; its weight is shared by the others.Grade B: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | BC–––D | 4.66 | — |
| 6 |  El Way Child Care and Learning CenterGrand Forks, ND | D 36How 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%49+26.7Reliability 24%29+7Value 14%25+3.5Replies to reviews 7%73+5.2Momentum penalty36−6.4Experts Score= 36Grade D: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | CD–DDB | 4.58 | — |
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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How the 6 after school care we rated in Grand Forks, ND compare, and what customers praise most.
A = score 80+, F = below 20.
Average stars per company.
Share of Google review highlights.
All price verdicts left with reviews.
Share calling it great / reasonable / overpriced.
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.
The 6 best-rated after school care in Grand Forks, ND average 4.8★ on Google across 321 reviews. All About Kids Inc. has the top rating (5.0★), and Stay & Play Pet Resort and Spa has the most reviews (184). Updated October 28, 2026.
6 companies that meet our bar: rated 4.5★ or higher on Google, with a meaningful review history (321 reviews combined) and currently operating. Request a call back and the company will phone you directly.
“They love our boys! We have tried multiple boarding options in the area. This by far is head and shoulders above the rest. We have two English Bulldogs who are not snipped and at times I believe they love the staff…” — Google review
“Our baby was here for almost a year in the infant room and we had a great experience! It was easy to tell the teachers really cared about and for the children, and I liked that it was a bigger room with multiple…” — Google review
“I can’t say enough good things about this daycare! The teachers are truly the sweetest, most caring people you could ask for.” — Google review
“We have had both our kids at UCLC. The staff are incredible. We know our kids are in the best hands when we are at work, and that is priceless. My wife, kids and I all highly recommend UCLC.” — Google review
“Thank you so much Linda and Ashley with all of staff there always friendly, kind and nice with me and my boy and help us a lot. I can't tell how much I'm appreciate and thankful for that” — Google review
“Genuinely wouldn’t want my son to go anywhere else. I worked from home until my son was 18 months, & he never left my side. Sending him to daycare was really hard, as we couldn’t trust just anybody. After having…” — Google review
We scan Google Maps for after school care listings in and around Grand Forks, keep only open businesses whose main category matches the service, and require a Google rating of at least 4.5 from at least 20 reviews. Companies are ordered by a confidence-weighted score that balances rating and review volume. We do not accept payment for placement.
All About Kids Inc. has the highest Google rating on our Grand Forks list: 5.0 out of 5 from 31 reviews (as of October 28, 2026).
Stay & Play Pet Resort and Spa has the most Google reviews among the companies listed here: 184, with a 4.7★ average.
Only open Grand Forks-area businesses whose Google category matches the service, rated at least 4.5★ from at least 20 Google reviews. They are ordered by a confidence-weighted score of rating and review volume. Placement is never paid.
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Analyzing 7,203,8127.2M ReviewsFor 20,40220.4K Experts