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 Cedar is a SUTQ Gold-rated (5-star) federal Head Start and Early Head Start program located at 442 Bell Street in Akron, Ohio, serving income-eligible families with infants, toddlers, and preschoolers from 6 weeks through age five. It fills a critical gap in quality infant and toddler care in the Akron area, with 81% of Head Start teachers and 100% of Early Head Start infant/toddler teachers holding Bachelor's degrees or higher. As the Summit County Head Start/Early Head Start grantee, the center provides comprehensive federal services at no cost, including education, physical and dental health, nutrition, mental health support, disability services, and family engagement. Parent reviews from community sources are not yet available to independently verify family experience, though the center's robust educator qualifications and federal designation signal strong program quality.
Safety7.0
Curriculum8.0
Art / Music7.0
Infant care7.0
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
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Top 10 in Akron
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Most Compassionate
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Best K-Ready
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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.
