Ranked #1 overall across all 11 quality dimensions among every licensed childcare center in Barberton. This is the highest recognition we award in the city.
Top 100 in Ohio
Among the top 100 childcare centers statewide — a distinction earned by fewer than 1% of licensed centers across Ohio.
Best for Safety
Earned the highest safety score in Barberton. Our safety dimension weighs inspection history, deficiency records, and parent-reported safety culture across reviews.
Best Curriculum
Earned the highest curriculum score in Barberton. This dimension evaluates structured learning, developmental programming, and how well daily activities prepare children for each stage.
Best Infant Care
Earned the highest infant care score in Barberton. This dimension focuses on caregiver ratios, responsiveness, feeding and sleep routines, and parent feedback specific to infant rooms.
Best K-Ready
Earned the highest kindergarten-readiness score in Barberton. 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 Barberton is a federally funded, no-cost early childhood education program at 315 E. State Street in Barberton, Ohio, rated as Ohio SUTQ Gold and operated by Community Action Akron Summit. It serves infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, as well as pregnant women and families with children under three through its Early Head Start component. Beyond classroom instruction, the program provides comprehensive wraparound support including medical and dental screenings, nutrition services, mental health support, and disabilities services, with parents actively engaged through policy councils and classroom participation. Eligibility is limited to families below federal poverty guidelines or receiving public assistance, and enrollment demand typically exceeds available slots.
Safety8.0
Curriculum8.0
Art / Music7.0
Infant care7.0
Kindergarten readiness7.0
Teacher quality8.0
Compassion8.0
Management8.0
Culture8.0
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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#1 in Barberton
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Head Start At Barberton -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/ohio/akron-canton/barberton/head-start-at-barberton/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="display:flex;align-items:flex-start;gap:16px;padding:18px;background:#FFFBF0;border:1px solid #EDD97A;border-radius:10px;max-width:420px;text-decoration:none;color:inherit;font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,'Segoe UI',Roboto,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;">
<img src="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/badges/rank-1-city.jpg" alt="#1 in Barberton - Head Start At Barberton - Barberton, OH" width="80" height="80" style="border-radius:8px;flex-shrink:0;" loading="lazy">
<span>
<strong style="display:block;font-size:15px;color:#1A1A18;margin-bottom:5px;">#1 in Barberton</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Ranked #1 overall across all 11 quality dimensions among every licensed childcare center in Barberton. This is the highest recognition we award in the city.</span>
</span>
</a>
Top 100 in Ohio
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Head Start At Barberton -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/ohio/akron-canton/barberton/head-start-at-barberton/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="display:flex;align-items:flex-start;gap:16px;padding:18px;background:#FFFBF0;border:1px solid #EDD97A;border-radius:10px;max-width:420px;text-decoration:none;color:inherit;font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,'Segoe UI',Roboto,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;">
<img src="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/badges/rank-100-state.jpg" alt="Top 100 in Ohio - Head Start At Barberton - Barberton, OH" width="80" height="80" style="border-radius:8px;flex-shrink:0;" loading="lazy">
<span>
<strong style="display:block;font-size:15px;color:#1A1A18;margin-bottom:5px;">Top 100 in Ohio</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Among the top 100 childcare centers statewide — a distinction earned by fewer than 1% of licensed centers across Ohio.</span>
</span>
</a>
Best for Safety
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Head Start At Barberton -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/ohio/akron-canton/barberton/head-start-at-barberton/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="display:flex;align-items:flex-start;gap:16px;padding:18px;background:#FFFBF0;border:1px solid #EDD97A;border-radius:10px;max-width:420px;text-decoration:none;color:inherit;font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,'Segoe UI',Roboto,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;">
<img src="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/badges/dim-safety.jpg" alt="Best for Safety - Head Start At Barberton - Barberton, OH" width="80" height="80" style="border-radius:8px;flex-shrink:0;" loading="lazy">
<span>
<strong style="display:block;font-size:15px;color:#1A1A18;margin-bottom:5px;">Best for Safety</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Earned the highest safety score in Barberton. Our safety dimension weighs inspection history, deficiency records, and parent-reported safety culture across reviews.</span>
</span>
</a>
Best Curriculum
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Head Start At Barberton -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/ohio/akron-canton/barberton/head-start-at-barberton/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="display:flex;align-items:flex-start;gap:16px;padding:18px;background:#FFFBF0;border:1px solid #EDD97A;border-radius:10px;max-width:420px;text-decoration:none;color:inherit;font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,'Segoe UI',Roboto,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;">
<img src="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/badges/dim-curriculum.jpg" alt="Best Curriculum - Head Start At Barberton - Barberton, OH" width="80" height="80" style="border-radius:8px;flex-shrink:0;" loading="lazy">
<span>
<strong style="display:block;font-size:15px;color:#1A1A18;margin-bottom:5px;">Best Curriculum</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Earned the highest curriculum score in Barberton. This dimension evaluates structured learning, developmental programming, and how well daily activities prepare children for each stage.</span>
</span>
</a>
Best Infant Care
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Head Start At Barberton -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/ohio/akron-canton/barberton/head-start-at-barberton/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="display:flex;align-items:flex-start;gap:16px;padding:18px;background:#FFFBF0;border:1px solid #EDD97A;border-radius:10px;max-width:420px;text-decoration:none;color:inherit;font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,'Segoe UI',Roboto,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;">
<img src="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/badges/dim-infant.jpg" alt="Best Infant Care - Head Start At Barberton - Barberton, OH" width="80" height="80" style="border-radius:8px;flex-shrink:0;" loading="lazy">
<span>
<strong style="display:block;font-size:15px;color:#1A1A18;margin-bottom:5px;">Best Infant Care</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Earned the highest infant care score in Barberton. This dimension focuses on caregiver ratios, responsiveness, feeding and sleep routines, and parent feedback specific to infant rooms.</span>
</span>
</a>
Best K-Ready
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Head Start At Barberton -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/ohio/akron-canton/barberton/head-start-at-barberton/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="display:flex;align-items:flex-start;gap:16px;padding:18px;background:#FFFBF0;border:1px solid #EDD97A;border-radius:10px;max-width:420px;text-decoration:none;color:inherit;font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,'Segoe UI',Roboto,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;">
<img src="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/badges/dim-kinder.jpg" alt="Best K-Ready - Head Start At Barberton - Barberton, OH" width="80" height="80" style="border-radius:8px;flex-shrink:0;" loading="lazy">
<span>
<strong style="display:block;font-size:15px;color:#1A1A18;margin-bottom:5px;">Best K-Ready</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Earned the highest kindergarten-readiness score in Barberton. This dimension reflects pre-literacy, pre-math, and school-readiness preparation reported by parents and visible in the curriculum.</span>
</span>
</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.
