Licensed Daycare in Fort Worth, Texas
442 licensed daycares in Fort Worth, verified weekly. Compare cost, age groups, and Head Start spots in your ZIP — directly from official Texas licensing records.
Fort Worth listings updated August 2026 from official Texas records.
Daycare in Fort Worth: what parents should know
Families in Fort Worth can choose from 442 licensed childcare providers, with Licensed Center the most common type (about 58% of local listings). Every provider here holds a current Texas license at indexing time, sourced from Texas Health and Human Services — Child Care Regulation.
Licensed care in Fort Worth spans 8+ ZIP codes, so families can usually find an option within a short commute. About 15% are family child care homes — typically smaller group sizes and 10–30% cheaper than centers, a good fit for infants and toddlers.
Combined, Fort Worth's licensed centers hold about 32,851 licensed seats — a practical gauge of how much local supply competes for each opening.
Fort Worth childcare by the numbers
The Fort Worth childcare landscape
Fort Worth has a quietly outsized role in early childhood: it is the home base of Child Care Associates, one of the largest Head Start grantees in the country. Between that network, Fort Worth ISD pre-K, and Texas's eligibility-based public pre-K, lower-income families here have unusually strong free options.
Free and public pre-K
Texas funds free public-school prekindergarten for eligible 4-year-olds (income, English-learner, foster, military, or homeless), delivered through Fort Worth ISD and surrounding districts (Crowley, Keller, Northwest). For income-eligible infants and preschoolers, Child Care Associates — headquartered in Fort Worth — runs an extensive Head Start and Early Head Start network across Tarrant County.
Subsidies and quality
The state Child Care Services (CCS) scholarship is administered locally by Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County — apply early given demand. Check each provider's Texas Rising Star quality rating; higher-rated programs exceed the licensing minimum.
How licensing works
Texas licenses and inspects providers through HHSC Child Care Regulation. Texas ratios run looser than NAEYC recommendations, so verify the ratio in your child's specific room and review the public inspection history before enrolling.
Neighborhoods and cost
Full-time infant care in Fort Worth commonly runs $1,000–$1,400/month — affordable for a major metro. Options cluster near the Cultural District and TCU, in the fast-growing Alliance corridor to the north, and across the suburbs of Keller, Southlake, and Mansfield.
When to start looking
District and Head Start pre-K open enrollment ahead of the fall — apply in spring. For infant care, tour in late winter or spring for an August start and join waitlists early.
Childcare costs in Fort Worth
ChildCare Aware reports the Texas average full-time cost at $1,100/month for infant care and $780/month for preschool. City-level prices in Fort Worth vary by ZIP code and program model — Head Start sites are free for eligible families, family daycare homes typically run 10-30% below center rates, and accredited centers run above the average.
The Child & Dependent Care Tax Credit and a Dependent Care FSA ($5,000 max) reduce effective cost regardless of program. Texas families may also qualify for Texas Workforce Commission CCS (Child Care Services) (intake: (800) 252-9240).
Full Texas licensing & cost overviewQuick facts
- State regulator
- Texas Health and Human Services — Child Care Regulation
- Infant ratio
- 1:4
- Toddler ratio
- 1:9
- Preschool ratio
- 1:15
- Avg capacity
- 74 kids
What will daycare actually cost you in Fort Worth?
Estimate your monthly cost by age and program type, then see which subsidies and tax credits you may qualify for.
What to pack for the first day
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Dishwasher-safe ones survive daily bottle washing; paper labels peel within a week.
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Ask the center first — many supply cots but require your own fitted sheet.
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Two full changes per day for potty-training age, one for older kids.
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Most centers ask for one clearly named bottle a child can open alone.
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Needed if the center does not provide meals; look for one that fits an ice pack.
Browse options on Amazon →As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Prices are the same for you. Full list by age in our daycare supply checklist.
Largest licensed centers in Fort Worth
By licensed capacity on file — bigger programs often mean more openings and age groups. Always verify the current license before enrolling.
No openings near Fort Worth? Widen the search
Waitlists are normal in high-demand areas. Centers one ZIP code over often have space, and part-time or in-home options may open sooner — start by checking nearby ZIP codes.
Found a center in Fort Worth? Here is what to pack
Bottles, name labels, nap bedding and spare clothes — our checklist by age covers what centers ask you to bring, and what they ask you not to send.
All Fort Worth licensed centers
Page 13 of 30Each listing links to the full state-record details, including last inspection date if reported.
Parent-asked basics on licensing, ratios, and waitlist timing for this area.
How many licensed daycare centers are in Fort Worth, Texas?
What's the average daycare cost in Fort Worth?
What staff-to-child ratios apply in Fort Worth daycares?
Are subsidies available for daycare in Fort Worth?
How do I verify a Fort Worth daycare's license?
Where to get childcare help in Fort Worth
Free, official channels for finding licensed care, checking quality ratings, and applying for assistance — no account or fee required.
Child Care Resource & Referral counselors help you find vetted local options.
1-800-424-2246 · Find yoursUnited Way's free, confidential line connects you to local childcare, food, and family aid.
Call 211 · 211.orgFree early education for income-eligible families and pregnant women.
Find a programTexas Workforce Commission CCS (Child Care Services) can cover most of your childcare cost by income.
(800) 252-9240 · How to applyCheck NAEYC accreditation and your state's quality-rating (QRIS) for any provider.
Find quality careConfirm any provider's current license & inspection record with Texas Health and Human Services — Child Care Regulation.
Official license searchChildcare resources for Fort Worth
Data and guidance on this page draw on official government and nonprofit sources.
How this data is sourced. Listings for Fort Worth, Texas are compiled from official Texas Health and Human Services — Child Care Regulation licensing records and cross-checked for current license status — not paid placements or user star-ratings. Rankings never depend on advertising. Provider details change often, so always confirm directly before enrolling. Reviewed by the DaycareHub editorial team · August 2026 · methodology
Search 442 Licensed Centers in Fort Worth
Free, no signup, verified directly with Texas Health and Human Services — Child Care Regulation.