Ashland, OH · Ashland · Based on public reviews & parent communities

Finding the right childcare
in Ashland, Ohio

Ashland is home to Ashland University, a private four-year institution founded in 1878 that anchors the city's cultural and educational life. The city earned its distinctive place in industrial history as the historic "balloon capital of the world," a legacy beginning in 1912 when inventor Harry Ross Gill developed the first cigar-shaped balloons at his Eagle Rubber Company there. Today, Ashland honors that heritage annually with BalloonFest and cherishes its self-made identity as a place of innovation and community spirit. We analyzed all 9 Ohio-licensed childcare centers in Ashland, 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.

9Centers reviewed
11Dimensions scored
1,000+Reviews analyzed
20,432City population
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Score key
9–10 exceptional
7–8 strong
4–6 average or below

1
Ashland Head Start Center
527 E. Liberty St, Ashland, OH 44805
Head Start · Licensed Child Care Center
SUTQ: Gold
6.8/ 10
Safety
7
Curriculum
8
Art/Music
6
Infant care
5
K-ready
7
Teachers
8
Compassion
7
Mgmt
7
Culture
7
Class sizes
0
Extracurriculars
6

Strengths

  • Kno-Ho-Co-Ashland CAC Head Start — federally funded, 4-star SUTQ-rated preschool for ages 3-5
  • Half-day and full-day Head Start options; Monday through Thursday schedule
  • Children with special needs are eligible; comprehensive family support services included
  • Ohio-licensed; accepts publicly funded child care (PFCC) vouchers

Considerations

    2
    Ashland West Head Start
    1797 Seddon Court, Ashland, OH 44805
    Head Start · Licensed Child Care Center
    SUTQ: Gold
    6.8/ 10
    Safety
    7
    Curriculum
    8
    Art/Music
    6
    Infant care
    5
    K-ready
    7
    Teachers
    8
    Compassion
    7
    Mgmt
    7
    Culture
    7
    Class sizes
    0
    Extracurriculars
    6

    Strengths

    • Kno-Ho-Co-Ashland CAC Head Start west-side location — same high-quality federally funded program
    • SUTQ Gold-rated; serves income-eligible children ages 3-5 with comprehensive support
    • Children with special needs are eligible; accepts PFCC vouchers

    Considerations

      3
      The Salvation Army Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center Learning Zone
      527 E Liberty St, Ashland, OH 44805
      Licensed Child Care Center
      SUTQ: Silver
      6.2/ 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
      8

      Strengths

      • World-class Kroc Community Center with before/after school care and enrichment programming
      • SUTQ Silver-rated; 90% recommend rating on Facebook from 230 reviews
      • State-licensed with strong community safety standards
      • Accepts publicly funded child care vouchers; serves school-age children

      Considerations

        4
        Milestones Learning Center Of Ashland
        1489 Mifflin Ave, Ashland, OH 44805
        Licensed Child Care Center
        SUTQ: Gold
        6.1/ 10
        Safety
        5
        Curriculum
        8
        Art/Music
        5
        Infant care
        5
        K-ready
        6
        Teachers
        8
        Compassion
        6
        Mgmt
        7
        Culture
        5
        Class sizes
        0
        Extracurriculars
        6

        Strengths

        • Ohio-licensed childcare serving birth to 14 years, open 6 AM to 6 PM year-round
        • SUTQ Gold-rated quality program
        • Accepts publicly funded child care (PFCC) vouchers
        • Established 1992 in Ashland community

        Considerations

          5
          Ashland Montessori School
          1515 Mifflin Avenue, Ashland, OH 44805
          ★ 5 (3 Google)    ·  Montessori · Licensed Child Care Center
          SUTQ: NR
          5.9/ 10
          Safety
          5
          Curriculum
          9
          Art/Music
          5
          Infant care
          5
          K-ready
          5
          Teachers
          6
          Compassion
          6
          Mgmt
          6
          Culture
          6
          Class sizes
          0
          Extracurriculars
          6

          Strengths

          • Perfect 5-star Google rating (3 reviews)
          • Montessori curriculum
          • Ohio-licensed childcare center

          Considerations

            6
            Montessori Good Shepherd Preschool At Trinity Lutheran Church
            508 Center St, Ashland, OH 44805
            ★ 5 (3 Google)    ·  Montessori · Licensed Child Care Center
            SUTQ: NR
            5.9/ 10
            Safety
            5
            Curriculum
            9
            Art/Music
            5
            Infant care
            5
            K-ready
            5
            Teachers
            6
            Compassion
            6
            Mgmt
            6
            Culture
            6
            Class sizes
            0
            Extracurriculars
            6

            Strengths

            • Perfect 5-star Google rating (3 reviews)
            • Montessori curriculum
            • Ohio-licensed childcare center

            Considerations

              7
              Ashland Family Ymca
              207 Miller St, Ashland, OH 44805
              ★ 4.4 (20 Google)    ·  YMCA Child Care · Licensed Child Care Center
              SUTQ: Bronze
              5.7/ 10
              Safety
              5
              Curriculum
              6
              Art/Music
              5
              Infant care
              5
              K-ready
              6
              Teachers
              6
              Compassion
              6
              Mgmt
              6
              Culture
              6
              Class sizes
              0
              Extracurriculars
              6

              Strengths

              • 4.4-star Google rating (20 reviews)
              • YMCA community resources and programs
              • Ohio Step Up To Quality rated

              Considerations

                8
                Park Street Brethren Church Preschool
                619 Park St, Ashland, OH 44805
                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
                7
                Mgmt
                5
                Culture
                6
                Class sizes
                0
                Extracurriculars
                6

                Strengths

                • Ministry of Park Street Brethren Church; mission of "Jesus' love through enjoyable education and nurturing care"
                • Montessori-based spiritual formation on Fridays; flexible hourly, half-day, and full-day care options
                • Before/after school and full-time summer care available; Ashland City Schools bussing offered
                • State-licensed; participates in subsidized child care program

                Considerations

                  9
                  Foundations Community Childcare
                  2330 Ford Drive, Ashland, OH 44805
                  Licensed Child Care Center
                  SUTQ: NR
                  5.6/ 10
                  Safety
                  6
                  Curriculum
                  6
                  Art/Music
                  5
                  Infant care
                  6
                  K-ready
                  5
                  Teachers
                  6
                  Compassion
                  6
                  Mgmt
                  5
                  Culture
                  5
                  Class sizes
                  0
                  Extracurriculars
                  6

                  Strengths

                  • Non-profit opened 2024 addressing Ashland County childcare shortage — 83% of capacity filled quickly
                  • Full preschool curriculum aligned to Ohio Early Learning and Development Standards
                  • Serves 6 weeks to 12 years; breakfast, lunch, and 2 snacks daily included
                  • Bussing to/from Ashland City Schools for after-school enrollees; PFCC vouchers accepted

                  Considerations

                  • New center opened 2024 — no established track record yet
                  No centers match this filter.

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                  Recognition of Excellence · Ashland, OH · 2026
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