Westlake, OH · Cuyahoga · Based on public reviews & parent communities

Finding the right childcare
in Westlake, Ohio

Westlake is home to American Greetings, the world's second-largest greeting card company, which has called this prosperous suburb home since its headquarters relocated here. The city is also anchored by Crocker Park, a distinctive 1.05-million-square-foot mixed-use lifestyle center that opened in 2004, seamlessly blending retail, dining, residential, and office spaces into a suburban downtown experience. We analyzed all 12 Ohio-licensed childcare centers in Westlake, 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.

12Centers reviewed
11Dimensions scored
1,000+Reviews analyzed
35,264City population
Sort by
🔍
Score key
9–10 exceptional
7–8 strong
4–6 average or below

1
The Goddard School
30502 Center Ridge Rd., Westlake, OH 44145
★ 4.8 (44 Google)    ·  Licensed Child Care Center
SUTQ: NR
7.0/ 10
Safety
8
Curriculum
8
Art/Music
5
Infant care
5
K-ready
8
Teachers
8
Compassion
8
Mgmt
6
Culture
8
Class sizes
0
Extracurriculars
6

Strengths

  • 4.8-star rating across 44 reviews - consistently praised by families
  • Teachers described as excellent, caring and invested in children
  • Children show tremendous growth in development and kindergarten readiness
  • Warm community atmosphere where families know each other

Considerations

    2
    Westshore Montessori Association
    26536 Detroit Rd, Westlake, OH 44145
    Montessori · Licensed Child Care Center
    SUTQ: NR
    6.6/ 10
    Safety
    8
    Curriculum
    9
    Art/Music
    5
    Infant care
    5
    K-ready
    5
    Teachers
    8
    Compassion
    6
    Mgmt
    6
    Culture
    8
    Class sizes
    0
    Extracurriculars
    6

    Strengths

    • 4.6/5 Niche rating from parent reviews - high for Westlake area
    • Authentic Montessori education praised by parents for language and independence gains
    • Teachers and administrators described as patient, kind and safety-focused
    • Top-ranked private school designation 2026

    Considerations

      3
      Sweet Kiddles Flexible Childcare Center
      137 American Boulevard, Westlake, OH 44145
      Licensed Child Care Center
      SUTQ: Silver
      6.5/ 10
      Safety
      6
      Curriculum
      7
      Art/Music
      5
      Infant care
      6
      K-ready
      6
      Teachers
      7
      Compassion
      7
      Mgmt
      7
      Culture
      7
      Class sizes
      0
      Extracurriculars
      7

      Strengths

      • Ohio SUTQ Silver — recognized quality program
      • Staff described as super friendly and professional by parents
      • Flexible scheduling model (hourly, part-time, full-time) via KiddleConnect app
      • Clean facility with inviting, welcoming teachers and helpful director per parent reviews

      Considerations

        4
        The Learning Experience
        25211 Center Ridge Road, Westlake, OH 44145
        Licensed Child Care Center
        SUTQ: NR
        6.3/ 10
        Safety
        5
        Curriculum
        8
        Art/Music
        5
        Infant care
        7
        K-ready
        7
        Teachers
        7
        Compassion
        6
        Mgmt
        6
        Culture
        6
        Class sizes
        0
        Extracurriculars
        6

        Strengths

        • Teachers praised as kind, patient and dedicated to child learning
        • Sign language incorporated into curriculum
        • Daily staff updates and engaging curriculum noted by parents
        • Programs from infant through kindergarten readiness

        Considerations

          5
          Westlake Montessori School And Child Development Center
          26830 Detroit Road, Westlake, OH 44145
          Montessori · 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

          • AMS-certified Montessori programs in clean, modern facilities
          • Ohio Step Up To Quality rated: NR
          • Offers after school care
          • Authentic Montessori curriculum

          Considerations

            6
            Primrose School Of Westllake
            25400 Center Ridge Road, Westlake, OH 44145
            Licensed Child Care Center
            SUTQ: NR
            6.2/ 10
            Safety
            5
            Curriculum
            8
            Art/Music
            5
            Infant care
            5
            K-ready
            8
            Teachers
            7
            Compassion
            6
            Mgmt
            6
            Culture
            6
            Class sizes
            0
            Extracurriculars
            6

            Strengths

            • Accredited Primrose franchise with Balanced Learning curriculum
            • Parents praise wonderful staff and teachers
            • Ohio-licensed preschool serving Westlake since opening
            • Procare app daily updates to parents

            Considerations

              7
              The Nest Schools Westlake
              27390 Center Ridge Rd, Westlake, OH 44145
              Licensed Child Care Center
              SUTQ: Bronze
              6.1/ 10
              Safety
              7
              Curriculum
              7
              Art/Music
              5
              Infant care
              5
              K-ready
              6
              Teachers
              7
              Compassion
              6
              Mgmt
              6
              Culture
              6
              Class sizes
              0
              Extracurriculars
              6

              Strengths

              • Parents report feeling completely safe leaving children at The Nest
              • Curriculum praised for helping children develop counting, language and motor skills
              • Exceptional overall family experience noted by multiple reviewers
              • Licensed childcare for infants through school age

              Considerations

                8
                Kindercare Learning Center #1681
                30850 Viking Parkway, Westlake, OH 44145
                ★ 4.7 (38 Google)    ·  Licensed Child Care Center
                SUTQ: Silver
                6.0/ 10
                Safety
                5
                Curriculum
                7
                Art/Music
                5
                Infant care
                5
                K-ready
                6
                Teachers
                7
                Compassion
                6
                Mgmt
                7
                Culture
                6
                Class sizes
                0
                Extracurriculars
                6

                Strengths

                • KinderCare full-spectrum programs infant through school age
                • Ohio Step Up To Quality rated: NR
                • Accepts publicly funded child care (PFCC) vouchers
                • Licensed childcare in Westlake

                Considerations

                  9
                  Shining Star Preschool
                  3760 Dover Center Rd, Westlake, OH 44145
                  Licensed Child Care Center
                  SUTQ: NR
                  5.8/ 10
                  Safety
                  5
                  Curriculum
                  6
                  Art/Music
                  5
                  Infant care
                  5
                  K-ready
                  7
                  Teachers
                  6
                  Compassion
                  6
                  Mgmt
                  6
                  Culture
                  6
                  Class sizes
                  0
                  Extracurriculars
                  6

                  Strengths

                  • Kindergarten readiness program in operation since 1953
                  • Age-grouped classes for 2, 3, 4 year olds plus pre-K
                  • Ohio Step Up To Quality rated: NR
                  • Long-established Westlake community preschool

                  Considerations

                    10
                    Parkside Preschool And Child Care Center
                    23600 Hilliard Blvd., Westlake, OH 44145
                    Licensed Child Care Center
                    SUTQ: NR
                    5.7/ 10
                    Safety
                    6
                    Curriculum
                    6
                    Art/Music
                    5
                    Infant care
                    5
                    K-ready
                    5
                    Teachers
                    6
                    Compassion
                    6
                    Mgmt
                    6
                    Culture
                    6
                    Class sizes
                    0
                    Extracurriculars
                    6

                    Strengths

                    • SUTQ 2-star rated center licensed for infants through pre-K
                    • CPR/first aid certified staff
                    • Meals and formula provided
                    • Church-based community childcare setting

                    Considerations

                      11
                      Best Beginnings Preschool Inc
                      25800 Hilliard Boulevard, Westlake, OH 44145
                      Licensed Child Care Center
                      SUTQ: NR
                      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

                      • Part-time preschool program for ages 2.5–5 with warm, responsive teacher philosophy
                      • Age-appropriate classes Monday–Friday including Friday morning and Thursday–Friday options

                      Considerations

                        12
                        Play And Learn Nursery School
                        2239 Dover Center Road, Westlake, OH 44145
                        Licensed Child Care Center
                        SUTQ: NR
                        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

                        • Established 1971 — trusted West Shore preschool serving generations of Westlake families
                        • Serves ages 3–5 in a safe, happy environment

                        Considerations

                          No centers match this filter.

                          Families in this area also explore

                          ← Back to rankings
                          Recognition of Excellence · Westlake, OH · 2026
                          Center Name
                          Awards Earned
                          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 Recognition of Excellence badge on your website. Paste the snippet below anywhere in your site’s HTML — it links back to your verified ranking page, giving families confidence in your center’s standing.
                          This recognition is awarded independently by Creative Minds Montessori based on publicly available parent reviews from major public review platforms and parenting communities. Centers do not pay for or request these rankings. Scores reflect editorial synthesis of parent experience — not center marketing materials. Rankings are updated periodically. Methodology & approach →  ·  Who We Are & Editorial Policy
                          Compare:
                          Side-by-side comparison