Ranked among the top 10 childcare centers in Akron. Fewer than half of all centers in the city reach this level across our full 11-dimension scoring.
Most Compassionate
Earned the highest compassion score in Akron. This dimension captures how families describe staff empathy, how concerns are handled, and the emotional environment of the center.
Best K-Ready
Earned the highest kindergarten-readiness score in Akron. This dimension reflects pre-literacy, pre-math, and school-readiness preparation reported by parents and visible in the curriculum.
Full Ranking Detail
childcare
Head Start At Arlington is a federally-regulated, SUTQ Gold-rated 5-star program serving the Summit County Head Start/Early Head Start network in Akron, located at 539 S. Arlington Street. With 81% of teachers holding bachelor's degrees or higher and a comprehensive curriculum addressing education, health, nutrition, mental health, and disability support, the center is designed to build school readiness through individualized, nurturing care. All services—including family engagement and kindergarten transition support—are provided at no cost to income-eligible families. The program's main limitation is income eligibility; families above the threshold are not served, and independent parent reviews are not publicly available.
Safety7.0
Curriculum8.0
Art / Music7.0
Kindergarten readiness8.0
Teacher quality8.0
Compassion8.0
Management8.0
Culture7.0
Extracurriculars7.0
Programs & curriculum
Curriculum & approach: Takes a comprehensive approach to early childhood education in age-appropriate, nurturing and secure center-based environments with qualified teachers.
Programs & activities: Provides child development and education, child health services, nutritional services, family and community engagement, disabilities and mental health support, and services for pregnant women and expectant families.
What sets it apart: Operates as the grantee agency for the Summit County Head Start/Early Head Start Program, serving infant/toddler and preschool populations across multiple center locations in Akron.
Recognition of Excellence — Website Badge
🏆 For Center Directors
Your center has earned independent recognition based on verified parent reviews. You are welcome to display this badge on your website. Paste the snippet below into your site's HTML — it links back to this verified recognition page.
Top 10 in Akron
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Head Start At Arlington -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/ohio/akron-canton/akron/head-start-at-arlington/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">
<img src="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/badges/rank-10-city.jpg"
alt="Top 10 in Akron - Head Start At Arlington - Akron, OH"
width="120" loading="lazy">
</a>
Most Compassionate
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Head Start At Arlington -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/ohio/akron-canton/akron/head-start-at-arlington/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">
<img src="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/badges/dim-compassion.jpg"
alt="Most Compassionate - Head Start At Arlington - Akron, OH"
width="120" loading="lazy">
</a>
Best K-Ready
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Head Start At Arlington -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/ohio/akron-canton/akron/head-start-at-arlington/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">
<img src="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/badges/dim-kinder.jpg"
alt="Best K-Ready - Head Start At Arlington - Akron, OH"
width="120" loading="lazy">
</a>
This recognition is awarded independently by Creative Minds Montessori based on publicly available parent reviews and public records. Centers do not pay for or request these rankings. Scores reflect editorial synthesis of verified parent experience — not center marketing materials. Rankings are updated periodically as new reviews are analyzed.
