Day care center · Grimes, IA · reviewed since 2018
iHow 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.29SCORE
DGradeiLetter from the Experts Score: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39, F = under 20.
#45 of 45 after school careiPosition by Experts Score among all companies we track in this category. · better than 0%
4.5★★★★★20 Google reviews · 20 photos
85%five-star reviews
15%1–2★, last 20 reviewsiShare of 1–2★ reviews in the last 24 months — or the 20 newest reviews when the company had fewer than 20 in that time.
Reviewers of Johnston KinderCare frequently highlight the facility's cleanliness, structured curriculum, and effective communication through a daily app. Parents note that staff members are responsive, welcoming, and attentive to children's developmental needs. However, lower-rated reviews criticize inconsistent supervision, perceived staff apathy, and high turnover rates, with some feeling the cost exceeds the value of the care provided.
Google rating: 4.5 out of 5 from 20 reviews (85% five-star).
Reviews on this page: 20 Google reviews (17 with written comments).
Owner responses: the business replied to 75% of reviews.
Most recent review: October 29, 2025.
Service: After School Care serving Grimes, Iowa.
Data from Google, last updated November 6, 2026.
Score profile vs other after school care
Score per factor (100 = best)iEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (star average, share of 1–2★ reviews, price verdicts…); standing within the category can only raise it, never lower it.. Strongest: replies to reviews and satisfaction; weakest: craft & service.
Johnston KinderCareAfter School Care median0 = centre, 100 = best
SatisfactioniSatisfaction · 54% of the scoreRecency-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.Johnston KinderCare: 48/100 on this factor. Category median: 77.C
48
ReliabilityiReliability · 24% of the scoreHow 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.Johnston KinderCare: 23/100 on this factor. Category median: 69.D
23
Craft & serviceiCraft & service · penalty only, up to −10 pointsGoogle 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.Johnston KinderCare: 0/100 on this factor. Category median: 89.F
0
ValueiValue · 14% of the scoreCustomers’ own price verdicts (Great / Reasonable vs Overpriced) and Value highlights; 65% absolute (all “reasonable” ≈ 80, “great” = 100), the category percentile can only raise it.Johnston KinderCare: 1/100 on this factor. Category median: 83.F
1
MomentumiMomentum · penalty only, up to −10 pointsPenalises 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.Not enough reviews for this factor yet. Category median: 100.–
–
Replies to reviewsiReplies to reviews · 7% of the scoreHow 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.Johnston KinderCare: 95/100 on this factor. Category median: 75.A
95
Bar = this company · dark tick = category median.
Star ratings
20 Google reviews we collected
4.5of 5
5 stars1785%
4 stars00%
3 stars00%
2 stars15%
1 star210%
Praise vs complaints
Phrases our text analysis found in 17 written reviews
84%praise
Praise2684%
Complaints516%
Topic share
How often each topic comes up in the written reviews
7topics
Communication929%
Staff & attitude619%
Quality & results516%
Would recommend516%
Speed & response26%
Price & value26%
Honesty & trust26%
What customers talk about
We read 17 written reviews and marked every phrase about these topics. The same colors are highlighted in the reviews.
“Bri was so friendly and welcoming, she answered all my questions and made the process so smooth!”
“The teachers are professional and I get the impression the teachers get just the right amount of support through corporate with curriculum, etc.”
“Even thorough Covid, the center has been helpful and communicative.”
“…smates and activities as she is being prepared for public school and would recommend this center for anyone seeking more of a comprehensive education…”
“They are always open and responsive to our feedback.”
“The quality of the curriculum, teachers & nutrition makes this higher price point worth it in our eyes.”
“Ashley and her team are a caring, professional, genuine group of educators and I am very happy to have a girl that gets up dancing in excitement to go…”
praise complaint · found by our text analysis, Google review wording unchanged.
Recent reviews
AAngeer2 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews this person has written across all businesses on Google Maps (not just this one). More reviews usually means a more experienced, trustworthy reviewer. · a year ago★★★★★
Bri was so friendly and welcoming, she answered all my questions and made the process so smooth! I was very anxious for my kids first day but they were so reassuring. This first week has been great, such an amazing facility and team!❤️❤️
AAnup12 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews this person has written across all businesses on Google Maps (not just this one). More reviews usually means a more experienced, trustworthy reviewer. · 5 years ago★★
There are better day cares out there, for far less money. Staff keeps changing and they are not well trained
− Communication− Value
KKarrieLocal Guide · 7 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews this person has written across all businesses on Google Maps (not just this one). More reviews usually means a more experienced, trustworthy reviewer. · 5 years ago★★★★★
After a few months with a child in a three y/o classroom, we feel great about the decision to join this Kindercare. The teachers are professional and I get the impression the teachers get just the right amount of support through corporate with curriculum, etc... to shine & have enough energy to devote to the kids.…
LLeah3 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews this person has written across all businesses on Google Maps (not just this one). More reviews usually means a more experienced, trustworthy reviewer. · 5 years ago★★★★★
This is our first experience with a daycare center as we have always used in-home daycare prior. We couldn't be happier with our experience here! The staff are welcoming and really helped with the transition to a new daycare. We love the app to keep us updated throughout the day and are amazed at how much our little one learns everyday!
AAmy3 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews this person has written across all businesses on Google Maps (not just this one). More reviews usually means a more experienced, trustworthy reviewer. · Edited 5 years ago★★★★★
I couldn't be happier with choosing KinderCare for our child. Everyone is so caring and attentive. We are always greeted by name when we stop in and always told to have a good day when we leave. Everything in the center is clean and organized as well. Even thorough Covid, the center has been helpful and…
EEllen5 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews this person has written across all businesses on Google Maps (not just this one). More reviews usually means a more experienced, trustworthy reviewer. · 6 years ago★★★★★
We visited several daycares, but knew moments after we arrived at KinderCare in Johnston that it was the right fit for us and our baby. He's attended for several months now, and I'm blown away by all the center does to keep everyone safe and healthy, not to mention the skills our baby has developed since being…
Bri was so friendly and welcoming, she answered all my questions and made the process so smooth! I was very anxious for my kids first day but they were so reassuring. This first week has been great, such an amazing facility and team!❤️❤️
Response from the owner · a year ago
Hi Angeer,
Thank you so much for your kind words about your experience at Johnston KinderCare. We're happy to hear that you have had such a positive experience with us! Bri and the team are truly dedicated to making every child's first day a smooth and welcoming one. Families like yours are why we do what we do, and we could not imagine KinderCare without you. Thank you for being a part of our family; we are so happy you're here!
Warm Regards, Johnston KinderCare
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Darius Fisher1 reviewiTotal number of Google reviews Darius has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
/5 Stars: A Catastrophic Failure of Care and Trust
It is genuinely difficult to put into words how abysmal my experience was. Entrusting your child to this center is a decision you will deeply regret. The issues here start and end with the people in charge—or rather, the chilling lack of competent oversight.
The staff operates on a level of neglect and apathy that is terrifying when you realize they are in charge of vulnerable children. Every interaction felt like an inconvenience to them. Simple requests for updates were met with eye-rolls, indifference, or vague, empty reports. My child was often observed to be distressed, unkempt (dirty clothes, dried food residue), or clearly lacking engaging attention. The constant, massive staff turnover meant new, inexperienced faces every week, leading to a complete breakdown in routine and safety. It feels less like a nurturing environment and more like a poorly supervised warehouse.
And management? They are shockingly incompetent and completely unaccountable. When I finally raised critical concerns about child-to-staff ratios and documented safety lapses, the director was dismissive, providing defensive, shameful excuses and treating me like an unreasonable nuisance. They have clearly fostered a toxic environment where poor service and inadequate care are the default standard. This was a completely miserable, stressful, and infuriating experience. Do not put your child's well-being at risk—look elsewhere.
Response from the owner · a year ago
Hi Darius,
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review for KinderCare. We're sorry to hear about your experience, and we appreciate you bringing your concerns to our attention. At KinderCare, we understand the importance of creating a safe, clean, warm, and welcoming learning environment, and we are sorry to hear your experience may have been inconsistent with this. Furthermore, if a parent has any questions or concerns during their time with us, we strive to respond urgently, compassionately, and professionally. We want to assure you that we are looking into your concerns further. If you are open to further conversation, please call us at 888-525-2780, 6am-5pm PST, M-F. Thank you again for taking the time to share your feedback.
Warm Regards, Johnston KinderCare
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Faith Williams1 reviewiTotal number of Google reviews Faith has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Great daycare for my kid's. The staffs are fabulous. My kid's loves it there
Response from the owner · 2 years ago
Hi,
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review for KinderCare. We are so happy to hear that you've had a positive experience with us, and we would love the opportunity to speak with you further! If you're open to further conversation, please give us a call at 888-525-2780, 6am-5pm PST, M-F. Thank you again for taking the time to share your experience, and thank you for being a part of our KinderCare family!
Warm Regards,
Family Operations
A
Anup Kumar Prasadam12 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Anup has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
There are better day cares out there, for far less money. Staff keeps changing and they are not well trained
Negative: Communication, Value
Response from the owner · 5 years ago
Hi Anup,
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review for KinderCare. We're sorry to hear about your experience, and we appreciate you bringing your concerns to our attention. Although this pandemic has brought along many challenges, staffing included, we understand how frustrating frequent staffing changes can be. We strive to be reliable, professional, and devoted to creating a safe space for every child under any circumstance, and we apologize that we may have let you down. We are always looking for ways to better support our families, and we'll use your feedback to do so. Your feedback is important to us, and we would appreciate the opportunity to talk with you further. If you are open to further conversation, please call us at 888-525-2780, 6am-5pm PST, M-F. Thank you again for taking the time to share your feedback.
Warm regards,
Carlie, Family Support
K
Karrie ZemanLocal Guide · 7 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Karrie has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
After a few months with a child in a three y/o classroom, we feel great about the decision to join this Kindercare. The teachers are professional and I get the impression the teachers get just the right amount of support through corporate with curriculum, etc... to shine & have enough energy to devote to the kids. We feel so lucky to have Ms. Cassandra as our child's primary teacher. I get real feedback about my child more than once or twice a year; keeping direct communication lines open is something important but missing at other centers. The quality of the curriculum, teachers & nutrition makes this higher price point worth it in our eyes.
L
Leah Lechtenberg3 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Leah has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
This is our first experience with a daycare center as we have always used in-home daycare prior. We couldn't be happier with our experience here! The staff are welcoming and really helped with the transition to a new daycare. We love the app to keep us updated throughout the day and are amazed at how much our little one learns everyday!
Response from the owner · 5 years ago
Hi, Leah!
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review for KinderCare! We are happy to hear that you have had a positive experience with us, and we would love the opportunity to talk more with you about your experiences! If you would like to talk more, please give us a call at 888-525-2780, 6am-5pm PST, M-F. Thank you for taking the time to let us know about your experience and for being part of our KinderCare Family!
Warm regards,
Lindley, Family Support
A
Amy Yin3 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Amy has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
I couldn't be happier with choosing KinderCare for our child. Everyone is so caring and attentive. We are always greeted by name when we stop in and always told to have a good day when we leave. Everything in the center is clean and organized as well. Even thorough Covid, the center has been helpful and communicative. They’ve upped the cleaning/sanitizing procedures and we’ve never felt unsafe sending our child.
Response from the owner · 6 years ago
Hi, Amy!
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review for KinderCare! We are happy to hear that you have had such a positive experience with us. We strive to create a warm, welcoming, and trustworthy learning environment for all of the children in our care, and we are thrilled to hear that this has been your experience. It is wonderful to hear that you are so happy with your decision to choose KinderCare! We know personal greetings and conversations make all the difference in making you feel comfortable in the center, and it’s great to hear that this has been your experience. Families like yours are why we do what we do, and we could not imagine KinderCare without you. Thank you for being part of our KinderCare Family; we’re so happy you’re here!
Warm regards,
Lindley, Family Support
A
Anzelika ClarkLocal Guide · 11 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Anzelika has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
I will just keep this short and sweet. I didn’t care for the facility staff at all. I felt like they were not providing adequate supervision for my kiddo and frankly I felt like their attitude was always condescending. Every time there was an issue to be addressed “Idk” was always the answer. My husband told me often they blamed our child for starting issues, but never provided any proof to fix the problem. Also there were always changes in rooms and other things that my child didn’t adapt to well. I never knew what room my kid was in, what was in her cubby, if she needed anything. No one ever cared to respond to me about anything unless it involved a payment demand. It breaks my heart to know my kid will miss her friend and she has no way of getting in touch with her because of course my messages are always ignored. All in all it felt like a overpriced babysitting service ran by a lot of very young people who didn’t appear to poses any positive qualities when it comes to educating our kiddos and preparing them for school. I’m very disappointed.
Negative: Reliability, Quality, Professionalism, Value
Response from the owner · 5 years ago
Hi Anzelika,
We are sorry to hear about your experience with our center, and we want to thank you for bringing your concerns to our attention. We expect our teams to go above and beyond to be communicative, friendly, and welcoming at all times, and we apologize that this was not your experience. We understand how much of a positive impact that a reliable daily routine and a responsive team can make for you and your little one, and we hold our centers to a much higher standard of care than what you’ve described here. Although our center was not the best fit for you, we truly hope that you have found a daycare that works well for your family. Your feedback is important to us, and we would love the opportunity to talk with you and better understand your experience. If you are open to further conversation, please give our Family Support Team a call at 888-525-2780, 6am-5pm PST, M-F. Thank you for taking the time to share your valuable feedback.
Warm regards,
Carlie, Family Support
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Ellen Butler5 reviewsiTotal number of Google reviews Ellen has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
We visited several daycares, but knew moments after we arrived at KinderCare in Johnston that it was the right fit for us and our baby. He's attended for several months now, and I'm blown away by all the center does to keep everyone safe and healthy, not to mention the skills our baby has developed since being there. As first time parents, we've greatly valued our son's teachers, who have helped us figure out the best options for him (for instance, his readiness for table food vs continuing with purees). Ashley and Sunny do a great job of communicating with parents—they've created an open atmosphere where we feel comfortable talking with them about anything. They are always open and responsive to our feedback. I would highly recommend this center to anyone.
Positive: Responsiveness, Reliability, Quality, Professionalism, Value
Response from the owner · 6 years ago
Hi, Ellen!
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review for KinderCare! We are happy to hear that you have had such a positive experience with us. We strive to create a warm, welcoming, and trustworthy learning environment for all of the children in our care, and we are thrilled to hear that this has been your experience. We’re so glad you are comfortable and confident knowing your son is safe, happy, and learning so much with us every day. It’s wonderful to hear our team has been so helpful when it comes to navigating those tough decisions like whether your baby is ready for table food or not. We’re also glad to hear Ashley and Sunny have created such an open atmosphere where you feel so comfortable asking any questions and bringing up any concerns you might have. Families like yours are why we do what we do, and we could not imagine KinderCare without you. Thank you for being part of our KinderCare Family; we’re so happy you’re here!
Warm regards,
Lindley, Family Support
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Denise Roach1 reviewiTotal number of Google reviews Denise has written across all businesses on Google Maps, not just this one.
Best facility in this area. Staff are very well educated and hands on. They are responsive if I have a question and have an app for all communication. We have been here for a year and have yet to encounter a problem. Everything is spotless and their food is the healthiest I have ever experienced. Highly recommend. Ashley takes great pride in having a grade A facility!
Response from the owner · 6 years ago
Hi, Denise!
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review for KinderCare! We are happy to hear that you have had such a positive experience with us. We strive to create a warm, welcoming, and trustworthy learning environment for all of the children in our care, and we are thrilled to hear that this has been your experience. We are so happy that you have chosen us as your partner in childcare and education! It’s wonderful to hear that our team has always been there to answer all of your questions and that you enjoy getting consistent updates through our app, too. We are overjoyed to know that you have not had a single problem in our center over the past year, but we want to assure you that if you ever do have a problem, we are here for you! It’s also great to hear that we have met or exceeded your expectations when it comes to cleanliness and nutrition. Families like yours are why we do what we do, and we could not imagine KinderCare without you. Thank you for being part of our KinderCare Family; we’re so happy you’re here!
Warm regards,
Lindley, Family Support
