Missouri state guide

Childcare centers in Missouri

Missouri has 2,619 childcare centers and homes in its state licensing records, across 381 cities, with about 127,000 licensed seats at the 1,657 centers that report capacity. Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Office of Childhood handles licensing. This guide covers how to check a license, how subsidy works, and how to find a center in your city.

Data updated October 1, 2026 · Source: Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Office of Childhood (opens in a new tab) public records · How we compile this →

Largest cities for childcare in Missouri

Ranked by centers and homes on file. Each city page lists every center in that city.
  1. St Louis419 centers and homes
  2. Kansas City210 centers and homes
  3. Columbia109 centers and homes
  4. Springfield103 centers and homes
  5. Lees Summit50 centers and homes
  6. Jefferson City44 centers and homes
Show 6 more
  1. St Charles40 centers and homes
  2. O Fallon39 centers and homes
  3. Florissant36 centers and homes
  4. Independence36 centers and homes
  5. Joplin36 centers and homes
  6. St Joseph35 centers and homes

Centers and homes listed per city, of 2,619 in Missouri.

All 381 Missouri cities

All 381 cities in Missouri, A to Z

Jump to a letter, or open a group below.

A · 13 cities

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B · 35 cities

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C · 38 cities

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D · 12 cities

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E · 15 cities

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F · 15 cities

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G · 17 cities

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H · 25 cities

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I · 4 cities

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J · 7 cities

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K · 11 cities

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L · 27 cities

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M · 32 cities

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N · 11 cities

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O · 11 cities

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P · 22 cities

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R · 11 cities

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S · 36 cities

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T · 7 cities

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U · 4 cities

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V · 4 cities

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W · 23 cities

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Z · 1 city

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Missouri childcare centers by county

114 Missouri counties have licensed centers or homes on file, ranked here by how many. St. Louis County has the most, with 439 centers and homes.
  1. St. Louis County439 centers and homes
  2. Jackson County317 centers and homes
  3. St. Louis City195 centers and homes
  4. St. Charles County151 centers and homes
  5. Boone County132 centers and homes
  6. Greene County119 centers and homes
  7. Clay County77 centers and homes
  8. Jefferson County63 centers and homes
  9. Jasper County55 centers and homes
  10. Cole County45 centers and homes
  11. Cass County39 centers and homes
  12. Buchanan County37 centers and homes
  13. Franklin County36 centers and homes
  14. St. Francois County30 centers and homes
  15. Newton County29 centers and homes
  16. Christian County28 centers and homes
  17. Scott County28 centers and homes
  18. Johnson County27 centers and homes
All 114 Missouri counties, A to Z

License types in Missouri

Missouri’s licensing records use these categories. Each listing shows which one applies.

  • Child Care Center

    1,657 listings

How to check a daycare license in Missouri

Every licensed center in Missouri has a public record with Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Office of Childhood. Here is how to read it.

  1. Search the state’s site

    Open Show Me Child Care Provider Search (opens in a new tab) and look the center up by name and city. Confirm the license type and that its status is active.

  2. Read the inspection information

    Open the center’s record and read whatever inspection or compliance information the state posts for it.

  3. Compare with Clear Day’s center page

    Our page shows the license type and capacity next to the hours and programs the center lists, so you can weigh the state’s record beside what the center offers.

Open Show Me Child Care Provider Search (opens in a new tab)

Each Clear Day center page in Missourilinks to that center’s state record when the state publishes one, so step 3 starts one click from step 1.

Paying for childcare in Missouri

These programs help Missouri families pay for care. Which one fits depends on income, your child’s age and where you live.

MO Quality Pre-K Grant (MOQPK)

A competitive Missouri grant that funds pre-K seats at participating programs, not a universal program. Administered by: Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

About MO Quality Pre-K Grant (opens in a new tab)

Frequently asked questions about childcare in Missouri

Answers use the numbers on this page, as of October 1, 2026.
How many childcare centers are in Missouri?

Missouri has 2,619 childcare centers and homes in the state licensing records Clear Day reads, across 381 cities. St Louis has the most, with 419, followed by Kansas City (210) and Columbia (109).

How do I check if a daycare is licensed in Missouri?

Look the center up in Show Me Child Care Provider Search, the state's public license lookup. Confirm the license is active, then read whatever inspection or compliance information the state posts for that center. Clear Day center pages link to the state's record for that center when the state publishes one.

Does Missouri help pay for childcare?

Yes. Missouri's child care subsidy program is Child Care Subsidy Program. Missouri funds some pre-K seats through MO Quality Pre-K Grant, a competitive state grant, rather than a universal program.

Where does this data come from?

Center records come from Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Office of Childhood public records. Every share on the page names the number of centers it is counted over, and the methodology page explains how.

When was this data last updated?

The state records on this page were last imported October 1, 2026. Each center page shows its own record date. See the methodology for details.

How we compile the data →

For center directors

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Other state guides

Missouri is one of 35 states in the directory: 173,052 centers and homes across 13,878 cities. Each state has its own guide with its own rules, agency and license lookup.

Where this data comes from

Center records come from Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Office of Childhood public records. Every percentage on this page names the number of Missouri centers it is counted over. This page is a guide, not legal advice. Clear Day does not rate, rank or review centers.

Read the full methodology →

Last updated
October 1, 2026
Agency
Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Office of Childhood (opens in a new tab)

This information is sourced from public records and may be incomplete or out of date. For the most current and accurate details, please verify directly with Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Office of Childhood or contact the center directly. Clear Day does not rate, rank or endorse any center.

Data updated Oct 1, 2026 · Source: Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Office of Childhood public records · Missouri license lookup (opens in a new tab) · How we compile this →