Ranked #1 overall across all 11 quality dimensions among every licensed childcare center in Ada. 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 Ada. Our safety dimension weighs inspection history, deficiency records, and parent-reported safety culture across reviews.
Best Teachers
Earned the highest teacher quality score in Ada. 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 Ada. This dimension evaluates structured learning, developmental programming, and how well daily activities prepare children for each stage.
Most Compassionate
Earned the highest compassion score in Ada. This dimension captures how families describe staff empathy, how concerns are handled, and the emotional environment of the center.
Full Ranking Detail
childcare
Ohio Northern University Child Development Center at 212 S. Union Street in Ada is a state-licensed, Five-Star Step Up To Quality Award recipient operated in affiliation with the university, serving children ages 18 months through 5 years. All educators hold at least an Associate's degree in early childhood education or a related field, and university education students participate as integrated observers and team teachers, enriching the educational environment with college exposure. The program emphasizes play-based, developmentally appropriate learning through hands-on activities including free choice play, story time, music, and outdoor time, tailored to each child's individual learning pace. Open to Ada community families as well as ONU faculty, staff, and students, the center operates Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. during its regular academic year calendar.
Safety7.0
Curriculum9.0
Art / Music7.0
Infant care7.0
Kindergarten readiness8.0
Teacher quality9.0
Compassion8.0
Management8.0
Culture8.0
Extracurriculars8.0
Programs & curriculum
Curriculum & approach: Play-based, developmental approach with developmentally appropriate curriculum tailored to each child's learning pace. Emphasis on hands-on learning by doing, nurturing each child as a unique individual.
Programs & activities: Daily activities include free choice play, story time, music, outside play and gathering time. Also singing, games, journal writing, and block play.
What sets it apart: Received the Step Up to Quality Award from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services; state-licensed by Ohio. Hours Monday-Friday 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (August through Memorial Day); serves ages 18 months to 5 years. Tuition $35/day full-day preschool, $40/day full-day toddler. Two full-time teachers per classroom plus student workers using team teaching; integrated with university education students who observe and participate.
Recognition of Excellence — Website Badge
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#1 in Ada
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Ohio Northern University Child Development Center -->
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<img src="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/badges/rank-1-city.jpg" alt="#1 in Ada - Ohio Northern University Child Development Center - Ada, 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 Ada</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 Ada. This is the highest recognition we award in the city.</span>
</span>
</a>
Top 100 in Ohio
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Ohio Northern University Child Development Center -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/ohio/major-cities/ada/ohio-northern-university-child-development-center/" 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 - Ohio Northern University Child Development Center - Ada, 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: Ohio Northern University Child Development Center -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/ohio/major-cities/ada/ohio-northern-university-child-development-center/" 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 - Ohio Northern University Child Development Center - Ada, 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 Ada. Our safety dimension weighs inspection history, deficiency records, and parent-reported safety culture across reviews.</span>
</span>
</a>
Best Teachers
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Ohio Northern University Child Development Center -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/ohio/major-cities/ada/ohio-northern-university-child-development-center/" 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 - Ohio Northern University Child Development Center - Ada, 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 Ada. 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: Ohio Northern University Child Development Center -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/ohio/major-cities/ada/ohio-northern-university-child-development-center/" 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 - Ohio Northern University Child Development Center - Ada, 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 Ada. This dimension evaluates structured learning, developmental programming, and how well daily activities prepare children for each stage.</span>
</span>
</a>
Most Compassionate
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Ohio Northern University Child Development Center -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/ohio/major-cities/ada/ohio-northern-university-child-development-center/" 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-compassion.jpg" alt="Most Compassionate - Ohio Northern University Child Development Center - Ada, 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;">Most Compassionate</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Earned the highest compassion score in Ada. This dimension captures how families describe staff empathy, how concerns are handled, and the emotional environment of the center.</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.
