Preschools & Day Care in Norfolk, VA

Preschools and day care centers in Norfolk follow the shape of the city's neighborhoods. Ghent, Park Place, Berkley, Norview, Poindexter and East Beach each have programs of their own, and the 72 programs in the city run from church-based half day preschools to YMCA branches, franchise centers and family owned operators with more than one campus. Every one of them sits inside the city of Norfolk, and several also reach families in the cities next door.

Church-based preschools are a clear part of the local picture. Ghent United Methodist Preschool, known as GUMP, runs a half day from 9am to 12pm, with Busy Bees for 12 to 24 months, Fabulous Frogs for 2 year olds, Shining Stars for 3 year olds and Pre-K Kids for 4 year olds, set by the child's age on September 30. It is rated 4.5 from 24 reviews. Larchmont United Methodist Preschool, called LUMPS by its families, has been directed by Meg Ditty since 2015 and is rated 4.8 from 22 reviews. First Presbyterian Preschool Norfolk and Ascension Episcopal Day School add to the faith-based side of the market.

The YMCA is the other long-standing name. YMCA on Granby and Blocker Norfolk Family YMCA both pair a preschool program with early drop-off or late pickup, enrichment programs and summer camp, around a full fitness and aquatics facility. They are rated 4.3 from 217 reviews and 4.3 from 154 reviews. Colonial Day School has run a preschool and child care program in Norfolk for 35 years, with a 2 year old program and two Pre-K classes, and is rated 3.9 from 48 reviews.

Out toward the water, Angel's Place Daycare Center on Shore Drive in the East Beach area, near the naval base, has cared for infants and toddlers since 2002. It enrolls children from 6 weeks to 3 years, runs the STREAMin3 early childhood curriculum and is rated 3.5 from 50 reviews. Parkdale Preschool & Daycare has been on Virginian Drive since 1976 and takes children from 6 weeks to 12 years, rated 3.4 from 21 reviews.

Featured preschools and day care centers in Norfolk

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Best preschools and day care centers in Norfolk

YMCA on Granby

4.3(217 reviews on Google)

2901 Granby St, Norfolk

  • Preschool program
  • Early drop-off or late pickup
  • Enrichment programs
(757) 965-2322

Calvin Preschool

5.0(5 reviews on Google)

2901 E Little Creek Rd, Norfolk

  • Preschool program
  • Early drop-off or late pickup
  • Meals provided
(757) 588-1452

Ready Academy

4.8(18 reviews on Google)

450 E Bute St, Norfolk

  • Early drop-off or late pickup
  • STEM or STEAM
(757) 622-5650

12 more preschools and day care centers in Norfolk

Listings with the fewest reviews.

A number of Norfolk operators run more than one site. Light Years Child Development Center is family owned, started in the Berkley community of South Norfolk, opened an infant and toddler location in July 2021, and later added a Johnstons Road campus in Norview that is now its largest. My Joy Learning Center & Childcare has My Joy I in the Park Place area of downtown Norfolk, taking children from 6 weeks to 12 years, and My Joy II near Poindexter in Chesapeake. Supreme Scholars Child Development Center 2 belongs to a franchise with five locations in Hampton Roads and cares for children from 6 weeks through 12 years, rated 5.0 from 29 reviews.

Children's Harbor Ghent is the Norfolk center of a nonprofit that has served Hampton Roads and the Eastern Shore since 1911, with early childhood programs in Chesapeake, Suffolk, Portsmouth, Norfolk and the Eastern Shore. Blue Ribbon Results Academy at 883 Norfolk Sq runs a brain-based preschool for ages 2 to 4 with a day from 6:30 AM to 6:00 PM, rated 4.8 from 66 reviews. Global Engineers Academy builds its program around engineering teams, and Norfolk Montessori Academy is the Montessori option, rated 5.0 from 3 reviews, so weigh that rating with its small count.

Families who live near a city line will want to look past Norfolk. Hampton, Chesapeake, Portsmouth and Suffolk all come up as places where Norfolk programs also work, and Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, Hampton and Carrollton each have their own page in this directory.

Common questions about preschools and day care centers in Norfolk

Which Norfolk preschools are run by churches?

Ghent United Methodist Preschool runs a half day from 9am to 12pm with classes by age, from Busy Bees at 12 to 24 months to Pre-K Kids at 4 years. Larchmont United Methodist Preschool is a church-based preschool that has been directed by Meg Ditty since 2015. First Presbyterian Preschool Norfolk is another, and Berkley Christian Academy takes children from infants through Pre-K.

Who takes infants in Norfolk?

Angel's Place Daycare Center on Shore Drive enrolls children from 6 weeks to 3 years and has one of the largest infant rooms in the city. Supreme Scholars Child Development Center 2 serves children from 6 weeks through school age, up to 12 years. Light Years Child Development Center has a campus dedicated to infants and toddlers.

Is there a program that accepts child care subsidies in Norfolk?

Blue Ribbon Results Academy, My Joy Learning Center & Childcare and Making A Difference Step By Step LLC accept child care subsidies. Children's Harbor Ghent bases tuition on total family income, has scholarship options, and accepts GSA and NACCRA subsidies.

Where can a Norfolk child go for before and after school care or summer camp?

Colonial Day School runs a before and after school care program and a summer program alongside the school year. The King's Kids Youth Development Childcare Center covers ages 3 to 12 with an afterschool program, school-out days and spring and summer camps. Both YMCA branches, YMCA on Granby and Blocker Norfolk Family YMCA, also run summer camp.

Which nearby cities have their own pages?

Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, Hampton and Carrollton each have a page. Some Norfolk programs name Hampton, Chesapeake, Portsmouth and Suffolk as places they also work, and My Joy II sits near Poindexter in Chesapeake.

Preschools & Day Care near Norfolk