How We Score

How It Works

Every Shortlist provider receives a letter grade (A–D) based on a weighted point system applied to verifiable indicators: accreditations, inspections, staff data, and pricing transparency. Same data, same grade — every time.

The raw score (0–28 points) is ranked against all providers in the same city to produce a peer-relative grade. The same raw score can yield different grades in different cities depending on the local distribution.

We publish the full formula because transparency is the only way to earn trust. If you disagree with a score, you should be able to see exactly how we arrived at it.

Shortlist exists to make childcare transparent: the same data, the same scoring, the same standards, applied equally.

Weighted Point System

Each provider earns points across three tiers, plus bonuses. Maximum possible: 28 points.

Quality Credentials (3 pts each, max 12)

Third-party quality validations — the strongest signals of program quality.

State quality ratings come from QRIS (Quality Rating and Improvement System) programs that most states operate independently. These are voluntary programs where providers undergo evaluation on classroom environment, teacher qualifications, family engagement, and administrative practices — above and beyond basic licensing requirements. Ratings are typically on a 1–5 scale. A Level 3 or higher indicates a program that has met standards well beyond the state licensing floor. We pull these ratings directly from each state’s public licensing database.

Operational Quality (2 pts each, max 8)

Observable quality indicators that require data to verify.

Transparency (1 pt each, max 6)

Disclosure signals — the provider chose to make this data available.

Bonus Points (max 2)

Programs that earn a Level 4 or 5 in their state’s QRIS — or hold NAEYC accreditation — have demonstrated quality well beyond the licensing floor across classroom environment, teacher qualifications, and family engagement. This bonus rewards that distinction. State systems: Early Achievers (WA), ExceleRate (IL), Colorado Shines, NC Star Rating, MO/KS quality programs.

Want to see how the formula works in practice?

Try the interactive scoring simulator

How Grades Work

Your raw score (0–28 points) measures quality signals and data transparency. Your letter grade shows where that score ranks among providers in your city. Grades use a peer-relative percentile system modeled on the Morningstar star rating methodology.

Grade Band What It Means
ATop 10%Exceptional quality signals — stands out among peers in this city.
BNext 40%Strong quality signals. Above the median for this city.
CNext 40%Below-median quality signals for this city. Some providers score here due to limited public data — their grade may improve as we gather more information.
DBottom 10%Few verifiable quality indicators. Worth investigating further.

Providers with the same raw score receive the same grade (generous tie-breaking). If home daycares structurally score lower (fewer accreditations, less public data), that reflects reality — and the editorial review provides that context.

Editorial Review

Each provider listing includes a plain English summary that describes what the score data means in context. The editorial review is not an independent rating — it translates the scoring inputs (licensing records, staff data, parent reviews, provider submissions) into a readable narrative so parents don't have to parse the raw data themselves.

We do not issue program recommendations. The letter grade tells you what the verifiable data shows. The editorial review explains that data in plain language. Forming an opinion is your job — we give you the information to do it well.

Data Confidence

Each provider listing indicates how much we trust the underlying data:

Categories

Every provider is assigned to one category based on its primary operating model. Categories exist so parents can compare like with like — a co-op and a corporate chain serve fundamentally different needs.

Category Definition What to Expect
Co-op Parent-participation model. Families contribute labor (classroom shifts, cleaning, admin) in exchange for lower tuition. Typically non-profit. Most co-ops are part-time (2–3 mornings per week), not full-day care. Lowest cost. Deepest community. Requires 4–10 hours/month of parent time. Important: co-ops typically require a full-time caregiver (parent, nanny, or otherwise) available the rest of the week.
Home Daycare Licensed family home. One or two caregivers. State licenses for 12 children, though waivers can allow up to 16. Smallest groups. Most personal relationships. Least structured curriculum.
Chain Center National or regional corporate operator (Bright Horizons, KinderCare, Kiddie Academy). Standardized curriculum across multiple locations. Most consistent. Employer partnerships common. Higher staff turnover industry-wide.
Independent Center Locally owned and operated. Single location or small local group. Non-chain. Most varied. Quality ranges widely. Often founder-driven philosophy.
Montessori Follows Montessori methodology. May hold AMS or AMI accreditation. Child-led, mixed-age classrooms, specific materials. Distinct educational philosophy. Credentialed teachers. Higher price point typical.
Language Immersion Primary differentiator is a dual-language program woven throughout the day (not taught as a separate class). Bilingual development. Culturally grounded curriculum. Often selective admissions.

For Providers: Why Is My Score Low?

A low letter grade almost always means missing data, not bad care. The quality score is built on verifiable indicators — if we can't see your accreditation, inspection record, ratios, or staff data, those points aren't earned.

How to Improve Your Score

  1. Find your listing. Search for your program on your city's page or go directly to your provider profile.
  2. Claim your profile. Look for the "Are you this provider?" section at the bottom of your listing. Enter your email and we'll send you a secure link to edit your profile.
  3. Fill in the gaps. The edit form takes about two minutes. Every field you complete earns points toward your grade.

Submitting data does not guarantee a higher grade — points are only awarded for verifiable quality signals, not self-reported claims. But making your data available is the single fastest way to earn a score that reflects your actual program.

Questions? [email protected]

Price Normalization

Childcare pricing is notoriously hard to compare. A co-op charging $400/month for 2 days per week and a center charging $2,000/month for 5 days per week are different programs at different price points — but the per-day cost tells a clearer story.

Every provider profile includes a per-day cost calculated as:

monthly price ÷ (days per week × 4.33 weeks/month) = cost per day

For programs offering multiple schedules (2-day, 3-day, 5-day), we show the per-day rate based on the minimum schedule and note the number of days. This lets parents compare a $400/month co-op (~$46/day for 2 days) against a $2,000/month center (~$92/day for 5 days) on equal footing.

Price is reported separately as $/hr. It is not a factor in the letter grade.

What Our Scores Are Not

Data Sources

Questions

If you think we got something wrong, tell us. We'll look into it and update the score if the evidence warrants it.

[email protected]