Ranked #1 overall across all 11 quality dimensions among every licensed childcare center in Parma Heights. This is the highest recognition we award in the city.
Best Teachers
Earned the highest teacher quality score in Parma Heights. This dimension weighs staff tenure, qualifications, warmth reported in parent reviews, and consistency of care across classrooms.
Best Curriculum
Earned the highest curriculum score in Parma Heights. This dimension evaluates structured learning, developmental programming, and how well daily activities prepare children for each stage.
Best Management
Earned the highest management score in Parma Heights. This dimension reflects director responsiveness, communication, operational consistency, and the overall tone families experience from leadership.
Best Culture
Earned the highest culture score in Parma Heights. This dimension captures a sense of community, inclusivity, staff morale, and the feeling families describe when they walk through the door.
Best Arts & Music
Earned the highest arts & music score in Parma Heights. This dimension reflects the depth and consistency of creative programming — visual arts, music, movement, and imaginative play.
Full Ranking Detail
childcare
Play Academy is a childcare center in Parma Heights, Ohio, serving infants through school-age children with a strong quality reputation. It holds a Gold rating from Ohio's Step Up To Quality program, accepts publicly funded childcare vouchers, and was recognized as a top 1% American business with a 95%+ quality score in 2024. The center uses HighScope curriculum with a balance of teacher-directed and child-directed activities, offers extended hours (6:30am–6:00pm), before/after school care, and summer programs with transportation to nearby elementary schools. Facilities include video surveillance, secure parent login via Brightwheel, an on-site kitchen participating in the USDA Child Care Food Program, and strong parent testimonials praising the welcoming environment and dedicated staff.
Safety5.0
Curriculum8.0
Art / Music5.0
Infant care5.0
Kindergarten readiness6.0
Teacher quality8.0
Compassion6.0
Management8.0
Culture8.0
Extracurriculars6.0
Programs & curriculum
Curriculum & approach: Uses the HighScope curriculum, described as creative, high quality, and developmentally appropriate. Emphasizes a balance of daily teacher-directed and child-directed activities to make learning fun and prepare children for the future.
Programs & activities: Serves infants (4 weeks-18 months), toddlers, preschool (3-5), and school-age (6-12); offers before and after school care, summer camp (ages 5-12), field trips, and transportation to Pleasant Valley and Constellation Elementary schools.
What sets it apart: Holds a GOLD rating from Ohio's Step Up To Quality (SUTQ). Features video surveillance in all classrooms, secure parent login, an in-house kitchen participating in the federally funded Child Care Food Program (USDA nutrition), Brightwheel parent app, and hours Mon-Fri 6:30am-6:00pm.
Recognition of Excellence — Website Badge
🏆 For Center Directors
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#1 in Parma Heights
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Play Academy -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/ohio/cleveland/parma-heights/play-academy/" 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 Parma Heights - Play Academy - Parma Heights, 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 Parma Heights</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 Parma Heights. This is the highest recognition we award in the city.</span>
</span>
</a>
Best Teachers
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Play Academy -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/ohio/cleveland/parma-heights/play-academy/" 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-teacherq.jpg" alt="Best Teachers - Play Academy - Parma Heights, 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 Teachers</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Earned the highest teacher quality score in Parma Heights. This dimension weighs staff tenure, qualifications, warmth reported in parent reviews, and consistency of care across classrooms.</span>
</span>
</a>
Best Curriculum
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Play Academy -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/ohio/cleveland/parma-heights/play-academy/" 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 - Play Academy - Parma Heights, 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 Parma Heights. This dimension evaluates structured learning, developmental programming, and how well daily activities prepare children for each stage.</span>
</span>
</a>
Best Management
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Play Academy -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/ohio/cleveland/parma-heights/play-academy/" 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-mgmt.jpg" alt="Best Management - Play Academy - Parma Heights, 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 Management</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Earned the highest management score in Parma Heights. This dimension reflects director responsiveness, communication, operational consistency, and the overall tone families experience from leadership.</span>
</span>
</a>
Best Culture
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Play Academy -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/ohio/cleveland/parma-heights/play-academy/" 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-culture.jpg" alt="Best Culture - Play Academy - Parma Heights, 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 Culture</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Earned the highest culture score in Parma Heights. This dimension captures a sense of community, inclusivity, staff morale, and the feeling families describe when they walk through the door.</span>
</span>
</a>
Best Arts & Music
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Play Academy -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/ohio/cleveland/parma-heights/play-academy/" 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-arts.jpg" alt="Best Arts & Music - Play Academy - Parma Heights, 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 Arts & Music</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Earned the highest arts & music score in Parma Heights. This dimension reflects the depth and consistency of creative programming — visual arts, music, movement, and imaginative play.</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.
