The Best Daycare Centers in Arizona
We graded 10 companies on seven things customers actually report: satisfaction, reliability, workmanship, value, momentum, track record and how owners handle complaints.
From 5,514 Google reviews of 80 top-rated daycare centers nationwide; 10 of them in Arizona. Updated November 1, 2026.
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Best daycare centers in Arizona for educational services
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Busy Bees Carefree Child CareHow Job match is calculatedBuilt only from reviews Google tagged “Educational services”:Stars on this job 55%5.00★Number of such jobs 25%5Overall Experts Score 20%79Job match= 86Stars are pulled toward the category average (4.80★) when a company has few tagged jobs, so 3 perfect reviews don’t beat 80 great ones. 4.3★ scores 0, 5.0★ scores full. Volume is compared with the busiest company for this job.86
Maple Bear Tempe Early Learning CenterHow Job match is calculatedBuilt only from reviews Google tagged “Educational services”:Stars on this job 55%5.00★Number of such jobs 25%3Overall Experts Score 20%89Job match= 81Stars are pulled toward the category average (4.80★) when a company has few tagged jobs, so 3 perfect reviews don’t beat 80 great ones. 4.3★ scores 0, 5.0★ scores full. Volume is compared with the busiest company for this job.81Job 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
Maple Bear Tempe Early Learning C…Our prior preschool closed and we were in a panic. We reached out to Mapel Bear and their director Lori was quick to reply and provide a tour. Mapel had exactly what we where looking for and more. My little one is having a great time and really enjoys her teachers (shout out to Ms. Gracie and Ms. Paloma). The app…
Busy Bees Carefree Child CareThe classrooms and school are super clean and the staff is welcoming and friendly. The Pre K and private Kindergarten programs are amazing and really got by my daughter ready for elementary school.
Maple Bear Tempe Early Learning C…They take great care of our child and are very well organized, responsive and trained. High marks!
Maple Bear Tempe Early Learning C…Best preschool ever. I put my boy in different pre schools before I found this one. I can tell you this place will take care of your kids and they will be safe and treated very well and will be taking care of. A lot of programs and teaching methods that will help your kids to develop and learn. I noticed my boy Jad…
Busy Bees Carefree Child CareIf we could give Busy Bees more than 5 stars, we would. The team at this location is absolutely amazing and has made it an ideal fit for our kiddo. From the moment you walk through the door, you’re welcomed with a genuine smile from staff who truly care about your family. We would highly recommend the Carefree location to anyone.
Busy Bees Carefree Child CareBusy peas is an amazing day daycare in the north Valley. I currently have a four-year-old that has been going there for three years now, I also have a 19-year-old daughter who went there when she was one year and Miss Amy the director was there at that time as well. She’s an outstanding director And leader at the…
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 daycare centers).
| # | 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 |  Petite PupScottsdale, AZ | A 97How 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%98+57.5Reliability 26%95+24.8Value 15%100+15.2Craft & service penalty99−0.1Experts Score= 97Not 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– | 4.98 | — |
| 2 |  The Goddard School of ScottsdaleScottsdale, AZ | 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 64%91+57.8Reliability 28%84+23.7Replies to reviews 8%93+7.7Experts Score= 89Not enough data for value; its weight is shared by the others.Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | AA––AA | 4.84 | — |
| 3 | Maple Bear Tempe Early Learning CenterScottsdale, AZ | 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%88+23Value 15%82+12.5Craft & service penalty98−0.2Experts 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. | AAAAA– | 4.89 | — |
| 4 |  A Caring Nanny, L.L.C.Scottsdale, AZ | A 83How 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%87+47.5Reliability 24%86+20.8Value 14%95+13.4Replies to reviews 7%18+1.3Craft & service penalty98−0.2Experts Score= 83Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | AAAAAF | 4.81 | — |
| 5 |  Miró International PreschoolScottsdale, AZ | A 83How 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%87+60.2Reliability 31%75+23.1Experts Score= 83Not enough data for value, 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. | AB––A– | 4.90 | — |
| 6 |  Whiz Kidz Preschool | ScottsdaleScottsdale, AZ | A 83How 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%92+50.2Reliability 24%84+20.4Value 14%78+11Replies to reviews 7%27+1.9Experts Score= 83Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | AA–BAD | 4.81 | — |
| 7 |  Desert Foothills Family YMCAScottsdale, AZ | A 80How 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%83+52.7Reliability 28%83+23.4Replies to reviews 8%42+3.5Experts Score= 80Not enough data for value; its weight is shared by the others.Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | AA––AC | 4.76 | — |
| 8 | Busy Bees Carefree Child CareScottsdale, AZ | B 79How 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%82+44.7Reliability 24%73+17.7Value 14%100+14.1Replies to reviews 7%39+2.8Experts Score= 79Grade B: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | AB–AAD | 4.77 | — |
| 9 |  Developing Minds Academy PreschoolScottsdale, AZ | B 76How 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%82+44.7Reliability 24%74+17.9Value 14%93+13.2Replies to reviews 7%49+3.5Craft & service penalty99−0.1Momentum penalty65−3.5Experts Score= 76Grade B: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | ABAABC | 4.88 | — |
| 10 |  Valley of the Sun JScottsdale, AZ | B 61How 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%71+45.1Reliability 28%53+15Replies to reviews 8%13+1.1Craft & service penalty99−0.1Experts Score= 61Not 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. | BCA–AF | 4.76 | — |
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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Daycare Centers in Arizona at a glance
How the 10 daycare centers we rated in Arizona compare, and what customers praise most.
Experts Score grades
A = score 80+, F = below 20.
- Grade A770%
- Grade B330%
- Grade C00%
- Grade D00%
- Grade F00%
Google ratings
Average stars per company.
- 4.90★ and up220%
- 4.80–4.89★550%
- 4.60–4.79★330%
- Below 4.60★00%
What customers praise
Share of Google review highlights.
- Quality29227%
- Professionalism29928%
- Responsiveness24623%
- Punctuality111%
- Value23922%
Was the price fair?
All price verdicts left with reviews.
- Great price21349%
- Reasonable20948%
- Overpriced61%
- Not sure82%
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.