South Dakota state guide

Childcare centers in South Dakota

South Dakota has 714 childcare centers and homes in its state licensing records, across 138 cities. South Dakota Department of Social Services, Office of Licensing & Accreditation 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: South Dakota Department of Social Services, Office of Licensing & Accreditation (opens in a new tab) public records · How we compile this →

Largest cities for childcare in South Dakota

Ranked by centers and homes on file. Each city page lists every center in that city.
  1. Sioux Falls204 centers and homes
  2. Rapid City63 centers and homes
  3. Brookings27 centers and homes
  4. Aberdeen20 centers and homes
  5. Yankton16 centers and homes
  6. Brandon15 centers and homes
Show 6 more
  1. Mitchell15 centers and homes
  2. Pierre14 centers and homes
  3. Watertown13 centers and homes
  4. Harrisburg11 centers and homes
  5. Madison11 centers and homes
  6. Spearfish11 centers and homes

Centers and homes listed per city, of 714 in South Dakota.

All 138 South Dakota cities

All 138 cities in South Dakota, A to Z

Jump to a letter, or open a group below.

A · 5 cities

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B · 13 cities

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C · 10 cities

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D · 6 cities

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E · 5 cities

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F · 8 cities

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G · 5 cities

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H · 12 cities

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I · 1 city

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J · 1 city

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K · 2 cities

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L · 6 cities

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M · 14 cities

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N · 4 cities

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P · 8 cities

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R · 3 cities

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S · 10 cities

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T · 4 cities

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V · 5 cities

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W · 15 cities

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Y · 1 city

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License types in South Dakota

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

  • Licensed Center

    305 listings

  • School Age Program

    120 listings

How to check a daycare license in South Dakota

Every licensed center in South Dakota has a public record with South Dakota Department of Social Services, Office of Licensing & Accreditation. Here is how to read it.

  1. Search the state’s site

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

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

Paying for childcare in South Dakota

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

Frequently asked questions about childcare in South Dakota

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

South Dakota has 714 childcare centers and homes in the state licensing records Clear Day reads, across 138 cities. Sioux Falls has the most, with 204, followed by Rapid City (63) and Brookings (27).

How do I check if a daycare is licensed in South Dakota?

Look the center up in 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 South Dakota help pay for childcare?

Yes. South Dakota's child care subsidy program is Child Care Assistance (CCA).

What is Quality Care South Dakota?

Quality Care South Dakota is South Dakota's quality rating program for child care. The ratings are the state's. Clear Day does not rate or review centers.

Where does this data come from?

Center records come from South Dakota Department of Social Services, Office of Licensing & Accreditation 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

South Dakota is one of 35 states in the directory: 173,052 centers and homes across 13,877 cities. Each state has its own guide with its own rules, agency and license lookup.

Where this data comes from

Center records come from South Dakota Department of Social Services, Office of Licensing & Accreditation public records. Every percentage on this page names the number of South Dakota 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
South Dakota Department of Social Services, Office of Licensing & Accreditation (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 South Dakota Department of Social Services, Office of Licensing & Accreditation or contact the center directly. Clear Day does not rate, rank or endorse any center.

Data updated Oct 1, 2026 · Source: South Dakota Department of Social Services, Office of Licensing & Accreditation public records · South Dakota license lookup (opens in a new tab) · How we compile this →