Daycare for Waxahachie Families: 20 Minutes Down US 287, Open 6 AM to 7 PM
ABC Early Learning Academy is a licensed daycare and preschool at 1700 Cedar Run Road in Ennis, about 20 minutes from downtown Waxahachie on US 287. We care for children 6 weeks to 12 years, Monday through Friday from 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM, with hot breakfast, hot lunch, and snack included for every child.
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How do I get to ABC from Waxahachie?
It is a short, simple hop between Ellis County neighbors: about 14 miles and roughly 20 minutes, without traffic. Check your map app for live times.
- 1Leave downtown Waxahachie heading east on US 287 Business.
- 2Merge onto US 287 south toward Ennis and stay on it for about 9 miles.
- 3In Ennis, exit toward Lampasas Street.
- 4The center sits on the west side of Ennis near Medical Center Drive, close to US 287.
Address for your GPS: 1700 Cedar Run Road, Ennis, TX 75119
Which Waxahachie families does an Ennis daycare make sense for?
If you drive from Waxahachie straight up I-35E to Dallas, about 30 miles and 36 minutes to Dallas City Hall without traffic, we are not on your way, and we will tell you that. From our center, Dallas City Hall is about 37 miles and 44 minutes up I-45. We are a strong fit when one of these sounds like your week:
You work in Ennis or along US 287
Drop off near your job instead of near your house, and your child is minutes away all day if the school calls.
You commute on I-45
US 287 carries you to Ennis, where I-45 heads north toward Dallas. Dropping off at 6:00 AM puts you on the interstate early.
Your shift runs past 6:30 PM
We are the only center in Ennis open past 6:30. Pickup runs until 7:00 PM, so a late shift or a slow drive home is not a crisis.
What do Waxahachie families get at ABC?
- • Three meals cooked on-site: hot breakfast, hot lunch, and an afternoon snack from our own kitchen, included in tuition.
- • Room to play: a 16,550 sq ft building with an indoor gym and 2.7 fenced acres outside.
- • Every age under one roof: infant, toddler, preschool, and school-age programs for 6 weeks – 12 years, so siblings share one drop-off.
- • Published prices: weekly tuition from $155 to $235, plus 50% off your first week when you refer a new student.
- • Help paying: CCS Child Care Scholarships: enrollment help available; ask us about current CCS status. The program (formerly CCMS) is administered by Workforce Solutions for North Central Texas, and our staff will sit with you and apply for CCS together.
- • Licensed: Texas HHSC Child Care Regulation license #1840100, licensed for 224 children.
School-age children can eat breakfast with us, ride to school, and ride back in the afternoon. Routes serve schools near our Ennis center and are confirmed at enrollment, so call to ask whether your child's school is on a route. Read how our school transportation works.
Waxahachie and Ennis, side by side in Ellis County
Waxahachie has been the Ellis County seat since 1850, and its red sandstone and granite courthouse, designed by James Riely Gordon, was finished in 1897, according to the Handbook of Texas. The same source notes the nickname Gingerbread City for its homes built before 1900. The 2020 Census counted 41,140 residents, and public school students attend Waxahachie ISD.
Commutes here are real. The American Community Survey estimates the average Waxahachie worker's commute at about 25.9 minutes, while across Ellis County it is about 30.3 minutes and 42.9% of workers work outside the county they live in (2020 to 2024 estimates). Care hours that start at 6:00 AM and end at 7:00 PM give that drive some breathing room.
What does the first week look like?
- 1
Tour
Visit on a weekday between 9:30 AM and noon or 2:00 and 4:00 PM. The drive and the tour each take about 20 minutes.
- 2
Paperwork
Complete the enrollment forms, including immunization records and a physician-signed health statement. We help you fill anything out.
- 3
Reserve the spot
Pay the one-time enrollment fee and first week's tuition. Refer a new student and that first week is 50% off.
- 4
Start on a Monday
Children start on a Monday so the first day is a full week with our meals program from day one.
Curious why we stay open late? Read about our 6 AM to 7 PM hours.
Asked by parents in Waxahachie
How long is the drive from Waxahachie to ABC Early Learning Academy?
From downtown Waxahachie it is about 14 miles and roughly 20 minutes to our center in Ennis, following US 287 south the whole way. That estimate assumes no traffic, so check your map app for live times before your first drop-off. Most of the drive is open highway on US 287.
Will ABC pick up my child from a school in Waxahachie?
Our school runs serve schools near our Ennis center, and routes are confirmed at enrollment. Waxahachie ISD schools are in a different district, so please call before you count on a ride. We will tell you plainly which schools our routes reach, and full-day care on school breaks is available either way.
Can ABC help Waxahachie families with a CCS scholarship?
Yes. Waxahachie and Ennis are both in Ellis County, which is served by Workforce Solutions for North Central Texas. CCS enrollment help is available at ABC; ask us about current CCS status. Our staff sit with you to complete the application, and Workforce Solutions decides eligibility and your copay.
What time should I leave Waxahachie for a 6 AM drop-off?
From downtown Waxahachie the center is about 14 miles and roughly 20 minutes down US 287 without traffic, so leaving around 5:35 AM puts you at our door when it opens at 6:00 AM, with a few minutes to sign in. Check your map app for live conditions, and pickup runs until 7:00 PM.
How much does daycare cost for Waxahachie families?
Waxahachie families pay the same published weekly tuition as every family: $155 to $235 a week, depending on your child's age and the day you pay. Hot breakfast, hot lunch, and afternoon snack are included. There is a one-time enrollment fee, and referring a new student gets you 50% off your first week.
More answers on hours, meals, and enrollment are in our parent FAQ, or call (972) 884-0222.
Tour the center on your way through Ennis
Tours take about 20 minutes, the same as the drive. Pick a window and we will confirm by phone.
Sources (retrieved September 16, 2026)
- Drive times: OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap data, free-flow estimates.
- Waxahachie history: https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/waxahachie-tx
- 2020 population: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb
- Commute estimates: https://censusreporter.org/profiles/16000US4876816-waxahachie-tx/ and https://censusreporter.org/profiles/05000US48139-ellis-county-tx/ (ACS 2024 5-year)
- School district: https://www.wisd.org