Top-Rated Daycares in Cambridge, MA

Cambridge, Massachusetts, offers a range of high-quality childcare options – from Montessori schools to language-immersion and play-based programs. We’ll highlight the top-rated daycares in Cambridge, MA, featuring centers serving infants through elementary school.

Cambridge Montessori School

Overview: An independent, non-profit Montessori school serving toddlers through middle-schoolers. Cambridge Montessori has been educating Cambridge children for over 60 years and was voted a top Montessori program by Boston-area parents.

Ages Served: 18 months to 14 years (toddler - 8th grade).
Notable Features: Authentic Montessori curriculum in multi-age classrooms, from early childhood into elementary. Emphasis on independent, hands-on learning and global awareness. The community is diverse and welcoming, instilling values of confidence, curiosity, and compassion.
Pricing: Tuition for full-day programs is around $30–32k per year. Financial aid is available to make Montessori education accessible to qualified families.
Parent Reviews: Families give Cambridge Montessori rave reviews. Parents praise the “loving” atmosphere combined with a “rigorous and thoughtful program”. One parent, whose children attended from age 4 through 12, says teachers “made them feel loved while also challenging them to learn new things with deep understanding”. Parents highlight the strong Montessori foundation and sense of community that prepare kids academically and socially for future success¹.

Wildflower Montessori School

Overview: A teacher-led Montessori micro-school and the original Wildflower network school in Cambridge. Wildflower Montessori offers an intimate setting, nurturing human potential with a mission of inclusivity and community. The school is celebrating 10+ years of early childhood education in Cambridge.

Ages Served: 2.9 years (preschool) through Kindergarten.
Notable Features: Small, mixed-age Montessori classrooms guided by experienced, AMI/AMS-certified teachers. There’s a strong focus on peace education, nature, and welcoming diversity. Wildflower partners with the city’s Office of Early Childhood to keep tuition accessible for all families. Classrooms are calm, sunlit spaces designed for child-led exploration and practical life skills.
Pricing: Wildflower is part of Cambridge’s Universal Pre-K system, meaning some preschool spots for Cambridge residents are tuition-free or subsidized. Otherwise, tuition is comparable to private preschools in the area (with financial accessibility a priority for the school).
Parent Reviews: Parents describe Wildflower as “an enriching and joyful learning experience”². Many highlight the caring teachers and values-driven environment: “The school’s values, community, and kindness have exceeded our expectations,” one Wildflower parent says. Another notes their child is “thriving and excited about learning,” and that the guidance from teachers has been “invaluable” for parents as well³. Overall, families love the close-knit, peaceful community at Wildflower Montessori.

Cambridge Preschool of the Arts (POTA)

Overview: A Reggio Emilia-inspired Jewish preschool with multiple Cambridge locations (Harvard Square, West Cambridge, Inman, and East Cambridge). POTA serves infants, toddlers, and preschoolers in a warm, creative environment that blends secular early education with Jewish cultural enrichment. Its state-of-the-art centers are designed to spark curiosity through play and art.

Ages Served: 6 months to 5 years (infant, toddler, preschool, and pre-K classes).
Notable Features: Reggio Emilia approach – learning through play, exploration, and creative projects – within a Jewish-values framework. POTA emphasizes social collaboration, art, music, nature, and celebrating children’s natural curiosity. Classrooms have airy, light-filled spaces and cozy corners for imaginative play. POTA is also a partner of Cambridge Public Schools’ Universal Pre-K, offering tuition-free Pre-K for Cambridge 4-year-olds.
Pricing: Tuition varies by program and timing (approximately $22-37K per year). As noted, Cambridge residents may attend the pre-K program free of charge through a city partnership. Limited financial aid is offered for younger ages as well.
Parent Reviews: Families often speak of POTA’s nurturing and attentive staff. One mom recounts starting her daughter at 12 months in the Harvard Square location and notes “an incredible level of warmth from every single staff member”, making them feel like family⁴. Another parent of a toddler is “so grateful for the love, support, and attention” their child receives from the teachers (called “Morahs”) at POTA⁵. Overall, parents describe Cambridge Preschool of the Arts as a “perfect” first school experience – gentle, joyful, and richly engaging for little ones.

Pine Village Preschool (Porter Square & Kendall Square)

Overview: Pine Village is a Spanish-immersion preschool with two Cambridge locations (Porter Square and Kendall Square) and a total of 10 Boston-area schools. It’s an award-winning program, voted the “Top Language Immersion Program” by Boston Parents Paper in 2023. Pine Village provides a bilingual, culturally diverse environment where children learn in Spanish and English through play.

Ages Served: 15 months to 5 years old (toddler through pre-K).
Notable Features: Full Spanish immersion curriculum – children are immersed in Spanish language during daily activities, stories, and songs. Classrooms are bright, modern, and designed for various age groups with lots of natural light and indoor/outdoor play areas. The program celebrates Latino cultures and also ensures a solid preschool prep (graduates leave with a strong foundation for kindergarten).
Pricing: Tuition is comparable to other private Cambridge preschools. (Expect rates around $2,000+ per month range for full-time care; exact rates vary by schedule.) Pine Village often has a waitlist due to popularity, so early application is recommended.
Parent Reviews: Parents often comment on the warm, inclusive atmosphere. One Cambridge parent calls Pine Village “an amazing daycare/preschool”, noting their older child attended for three years and it was “a huge step up” in experience and quality compared to a previous daycare⁶. Families love the caring teachers and how children become truly bilingual. Overall, Pine Village’s blend of language and love gets high marks from Cambridge moms and dads.

Radcliffe Child Care Center

Overview: Tucked near Harvard Square, RCCC is a small, high-quality center affiliated with Harvard University. It provides full-day childcare in a home-like setting and is accredited by NAEYC as a mark of excellence. Radcliffe’s mission is to partner with the Harvard community to offer the best possible early childhood education and care for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.

Ages Served: 3 months to 5 years old (infant through pre-K).
Notable Features: Exceptionally qualified staff and longtime teachers (many have been with RCCC for years). The program emphasizes learning through exploration and strong community ties – being on Harvard’s campus, classes take regular walks to Harvard Yard, local parks, and museums. RCCC also prioritizes cultural diversity and inclusion in its curriculum.
Pricing: As a premium infant/toddler program in Cambridge, tuition is on the higher end. Harvard affiliates typically receive priority for enrollment, but slots sometimes open to community members.
Parent Reviews: With a 5-star Yelp rating, Radcliffe Child Care earns glowing feedback. “We loved the teachers, the school administrators, and the warm, nurturing environment,” one parent writes, saying their child thrived from age 2 until kindergarten⁷. Parents frequently mention the low staff turnover and caring, communicative teachers who feel like extended family. The long-tenured staff and the cozy, stimulating setting give RCCC a “close-knit, home away from home” vibe that families truly appreciate.

Cambridge Nursery School

Overview: Cambridge Nursery School (CNS) is a nearly 100-year-old parent cooperative preschool in North Cambridge (Avon Hill/Porter Square area). As a co-op, it’s run by a team of experienced teachers and an actively involved community of parents. CNS is beloved for its play-based, outdoor-oriented program that has introduced generations of Cambridge kids to school.

Ages Served: 2 years 9 months up to 5 years (two classes: one for 3-year-olds and one for 4-year-olds). The core program is mornings (5 days/week), with optional extended days and a small summer program offered.
Notable Features: Play-based learning with lots of outdoor time. The school day balances free play with structured activities like story time, music, yoga, and nature exploration. Because it’s a cooperative, parents are required to assist in the classroom (about 10 mornings per year) and help with school operations, creating a tight-knit community. The environment is warm, creative, and screen-free – a perfect place for a child’s first school experience.
Pricing: As a co-op, CNS’s tuition is relatively moderate. It operates as a part-time preschool (half-day schedule), so costs are lower than full-time daycare, on the order of ~$10,000–$15,000 for the school year (exact rates vary).
Parent Reviews: Cambridge Nursery School is 5-stars across parent reviews⁸. Moms and dads rave about the “fantastic program” and “engaging community”⁹. One parent wrote, “We absolutely adore it. The staff is very experienced... and caring”, highlighting that many teachers have been there for decades¹⁰. Families love the cozy, nurturing vibe – “a great place to start the school experience”, where children feel safe, loved, and free to play and grow¹¹.

Evergreen Day School

Overview: Evergreen Day School is a highly acclaimed preschool in West Cambridge known for its play-based, child-centered approach. Having recently moved to a brand-new facility overlooking Fresh Pond, Evergreen offers a bright, modern environment for little ones. It’s consistently ranked among the best preschools in Cambridge.

Ages Served: 18 months to 5 years old (toddler and preschool programs).
Notable Features: A beautiful new campus – spacious classrooms, a stunning children’s library, and large outdoor play areas. Enrichment is a big focus: Evergreen offers yoga, music, Spanish lessons, and art as part of the curriculum. The program emphasizes nurturing each child’s curiosity and discussing big topics in age-appropriate ways (teachers even gently introduce topics like diversity and mindfulness at the preschool level). Long-tenured teachers provide a warm, stable environment – many staff members have been with Evergreen for years.
Pricing: Tuition is in line with other top-tier Cambridge programs (approximately $20,000–$25,000/year for full-time preschool, but limited usage can be as low as $500). Some scholarships or sliding-scale slots may be available via assistance programs.
Parent Reviews: Local parents often mention that Evergreen has “what has to be the nicest facility of any preschool in Cambridge,” but they note the substance matches the setting. The staff is described as “long-tenured, caring,” and the school vibe as “overall warm and nurturing”¹². In feedback, moms and dads praise the “excellent communication” with teachers and the way their children are excited to go to school each day¹³.

Rock & Roll Daycare

Overview: Rock & Roll Daycare (RRDC) is a Cambridge-founded childcare program that blends a standard early childhood curriculum with the joy of music. With multiple Cambridge locations (East Cambridge, Central Square, Inman, Porter, etc.), RRDC provides full-day care in a music-focused, culturally immersive setting. It’s a popular choice for parents looking for a creative twist on daycare.

Ages Served: 3 months to 5 years old (Infants through preschool). Centers are open extended hours (typically 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM) to accommodate working parents.
Notable Features: True to its name, Rock & Roll Daycare offers daily music enrichment – children get exposed to instruments, genres, and songs from around the world as part of the curriculum. The approach is emergent and play-based: classrooms have learning centers for art, science, pretend play, math, etc., similar to Montessori/Reggio methods, but with a special emphasis on music and multicultural learning. RRDC provides conveniences like all meals, snacks, diapers, and wipes included in tuition, and uses an app to send parents photo/text updates throughout the day. They’re also a City of Cambridge preschool partner, meaning some 4-year-olds can attend via the city’s free pre-K initiative.
Pricing: Rock & Roll’s tuition is generally in the range of other Cambridge centers. The all-inclusive pricing and longer hours add value for many families. Part-time and “drop-in” care options for less financial commitment are available at some locations, which parents appreciate.
Parent Reviews: Parents give Rock & Roll Daycare high marks for its caring staff and the engaging musical environment. Per the reviews on their site, a Central Square parent said the center’s teacher was “very caring with the children… great communication with the parents… classrooms were clean and nicely equipped”. At Porter Square, a mom loves that “they have music class almost every day… my daughter loves to dance and really enjoys going to her daycare”. An East Cambridge parent of an infant shared: “Our kid has been at Rock & Roll since he was 7 months old and we love it! All the staff are incredibly sweet and patient… they helped him adjust to daycare and now he loves going. We’re always delighted by the fun activities he does during the day”. These consistent reviews highlight RRDC’s fun, supportive atmosphere – a place where children gain confidence, parents feel at ease, and everyone leaves with a song in their heart.

Conclusion

Cambridge is home to an array of top-rated daycares and preschools, each with its own philosophy and strengths. Whether you prioritize the independence of Montessori, the cultural richness of language immersion, a play-based co-op community, or creative extras like music or yoga, you’ll find an option to fit your family’s needs. All of the above centers have strong reputations for quality, caring educators, and happy kids, which, ultimately, is the hallmark of any of the best daycares. Good luck with your search, and rest assured that your little one is in good hands!

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¹Cambridge Montessori School Reviews - Niche

²The Absolute Best Preschools in Cambridge [Updated 2025]

³Wildflower Montessori School Reviews | Cambridge, MA

⁴Cambridge Preschool of the Arts - MapQuest

⁵Cambridge Preschool of the Arts - MapQuest

⁶Pine Village Preschool - MapQuest

⁷RADCLIFFE CHILD CARE CENTER - Updated August 2025 - Yelp

⁸CAMBRIDGE NURSERY SCHOOL - Updated August 2025 - Yelp

⁹The Absolute Best Preschools in Cambridge [Updated 2025]

¹⁰https://www.care.com/b/l/cambridge-nursery-school/cambridge-ma-6-hillside-place

¹¹The Absolute Best Preschools in Cambridge [Updated 2025]