Painesville, OH · Lake · Based on public reviews & parent communities

Finding the right childcare
in Painesville, Ohio

Painesville was once such a booming frontier settlement that by the 1820s it rivaled Cleveland in size, and it served as Lake County's seat after the county was formed in 1840. The city became a major center for nursery stock and horticultural innovation starting in the 1850s, earning its place as a regional agricultural hub. Painesville also holds a notable place in local history as the site of Rider's Inn, which operated as a station on the Underground Railroad and provided refuge for an estimated 3,000 formerly enslaved people seeking freedom. We analyzed all 10 Ohio-licensed childcare centers in Painesville, scoring each across 11 real dimensions from parent reviews and public records. No marketing copy — just what real families reported. We scored each Ohio-licensed childcare center across 11 real dimensions — safety, curriculum, arts & music, infant care, kindergarten readiness and more. Scores drawn from major public review platforms and parent communities — not center marketing.

10Centers reviewed
11Dimensions scored
1,000+Reviews analyzed
20,373City population
Sort by
🔍
Score key
9–10 exceptional
7–8 strong
4–6 average or below

1
Tiny Town Childcare And Learning Center
301 East Erie St., Painesville, OH 44077
Licensed Child Care Center
SUTQ: Gold
6.9/ 10
Safety
7
Curriculum
8
Art/Music
5
Infant care
6
K-ready
6
Teachers
8
Compassion
8
Mgmt
7
Culture
8
Class sizes
0
Extracurriculars
6

Strengths

  • Ohio Step Up To Quality rated: Gold — recognized quality program
  • 100% Facebook recommendation rate from 5 reviews
  • One parent had all 4 children enrolled for over a year — praised as 'safe, very nice and respectful, very sanitized'
  • Established since 2008 — part of Tiny Town Enrichment Centers multi-location network
  • Accepts publicly funded child care (PFCC) vouchers

Considerations

    2
    Childtime Children'S Centers
    2603 Riverside Drive, Painesville, OH 44077
    ★ 3.8 (36 Google)    ·  Licensed Child Care Center
    SUTQ: Gold
    6.3/ 10
    Safety
    5
    Curriculum
    8
    Art/Music
    5
    Infant care
    5
    K-ready
    6
    Teachers
    8
    Compassion
    6
    Mgmt
    8
    Culture
    6
    Class sizes
    0
    Extracurriculars
    6

    Strengths

    • Ohio Step Up To Quality rated: Gold -- recognized quality program
    • Accepts publicly funded child care (PFCC) vouchers
    • Part of Learning Care Group national network with STEAM and academic-based educational programming

    Considerations

      3
      Lake - Geauga United Head Start, Inc
      350 Cedarbrook Dr, Painesville, OH 44077
      Head Start · Licensed Child Care Center
      SUTQ: Gold
      6.3/ 10
      Safety
      5
      Curriculum
      8
      Art/Music
      5
      Infant care
      5
      K-ready
      6
      Teachers
      8
      Compassion
      6
      Mgmt
      8
      Culture
      6
      Class sizes
      0
      Extracurriculars
      6

      Strengths

      • Ohio Step Up To Quality rated: Gold -- recognized quality program
      • Federal Head Start program serving Lake and Geauga County families -- comprehensive early childhood education, health, and family support

      Considerations

        4
        Little Scholars East Painesville
        1865 North Ridge Rd., Painesville, OH 44077
        Licensed Child Care Center
        SUTQ: Gold
        6.3/ 10
        Safety
        5
        Curriculum
        8
        Art/Music
        5
        Infant care
        5
        K-ready
        6
        Teachers
        8
        Compassion
        6
        Mgmt
        8
        Culture
        6
        Class sizes
        0
        Extracurriculars
        6

        Strengths

        • Ohio Step Up To Quality rated: Gold -- recognized quality program
        • Accepts publicly funded child care (PFCC) vouchers
        • Part of Little Scholars network -- Gold SUTQ certified since 2006; full-service childcare and developmental programs for ages 18 months to 12 years

        Considerations

          5
          Painesville Christian Academy
          6235 Chestnut St, Painesville, OH 44077
          Licensed Child Care Center
          SUTQ: Gold
          6.3/ 10
          Safety
          5
          Curriculum
          8
          Art/Music
          5
          Infant care
          5
          K-ready
          6
          Teachers
          8
          Compassion
          6
          Mgmt
          8
          Culture
          6
          Class sizes
          0
          Extracurriculars
          6

          Strengths

          • Ohio Step Up To Quality rated: Gold -- recognized quality program
          • Accepts publicly funded child care (PFCC) vouchers
          • Christian faith-based educational environment with Gold SUTQ certification

          Considerations

            6
            St Paul'S Preschool
            250 Bowhall Rd, Painesville, OH 44077
            Licensed Child Care Center
            SUTQ: NR
            5.8/ 10
            Safety
            5
            Curriculum
            6
            Art/Music
            5
            Infant care
            5
            K-ready
            6
            Teachers
            6
            Compassion
            7
            Mgmt
            5
            Culture
            7
            Class sizes
            0
            Extracurriculars
            6

            Strengths

            • Faith-based preschool at St. Paul's church — nurturing, values-centered early learning environment

            Considerations

              7
              Central Y'S Learning Station
              933 Mentor Ave, Painesville, OH 44077
              Licensed Child Care Center
              SUTQ: Bronze
              5.6/ 10
              Safety
              5
              Curriculum
              6
              Art/Music
              5
              Infant care
              5
              K-ready
              6
              Teachers
              6
              Compassion
              6
              Mgmt
              5
              Culture
              6
              Class sizes
              0
              Extracurriculars
              6

              Strengths

              • YMCA-operated learning station — established nonprofit with community mission
              • Accepts publicly funded child care (PFCC) vouchers — accessible to subsidy-eligible families

              Considerations

                8
                Chestnut Y-Sacc
                341 Chestnut, Painesville, OH 44077
                Licensed Child Care Center
                SUTQ: Bronze
                5.6/ 10
                Safety
                5
                Curriculum
                6
                Art/Music
                5
                Infant care
                5
                K-ready
                6
                Teachers
                6
                Compassion
                6
                Mgmt
                5
                Culture
                6
                Class sizes
                0
                Extracurriculars
                6

                Strengths

                • YMCA school-age child care (Y-SACC) program co-located at Chestnut school — convenient before/after school care
                • Accepts publicly funded child care (PFCC) vouchers — accessible to subsidy-eligible families

                Considerations

                  9
                  Ymca Maple Y-Key
                  560 W. Jackson St, Painesville, OH 44077
                  YMCA Child Care · Licensed Child Care Center
                  SUTQ: Bronze
                  5.6/ 10
                  Safety
                  5
                  Curriculum
                  6
                  Art/Music
                  5
                  Infant care
                  5
                  K-ready
                  6
                  Teachers
                  6
                  Compassion
                  6
                  Mgmt
                  5
                  Culture
                  6
                  Class sizes
                  0
                  Extracurriculars
                  6

                  Strengths

                  • YMCA school-age child care program at Maple Elementary — convenient for enrolled students
                  • Accepts publicly funded child care (PFCC) vouchers — accessible to subsidy-eligible families

                  Considerations

                    10
                    Growing Hands Daycare, Llc
                    1697 Mentor Ave, Painesville, OH 44077
                    Licensed Child Care Center
                    SUTQ: NR
                    5.4/ 10
                    Safety
                    5
                    Curriculum
                    6
                    Art/Music
                    5
                    Infant care
                    5
                    K-ready
                    5
                    Teachers
                    6
                    Compassion
                    6
                    Mgmt
                    5
                    Culture
                    5
                    Class sizes
                    0
                    Extracurriculars
                    6

                    Strengths

                    • Field trips, meals, and transportation included — full-service childcare model
                    • Accepts publicly funded child care (PFCC) vouchers — accessible to subsidy-eligible families

                    Considerations

                      No centers match this filter.

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                      Recognition of Excellence · Painesville, OH · 2026
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