Ranked among the top 3 childcare centers in Blacklick across all 11 quality dimensions — placing this center in the very top tier of local options.
Best for Safety
Earned the highest safety score in Blacklick. Our safety dimension weighs inspection history, deficiency records, and parent-reported safety culture across reviews.
Best Teachers
Earned the highest teacher quality score in Blacklick. 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 Blacklick. 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 Blacklick. This dimension captures how families describe staff empathy, how concerns are handled, and the emotional environment of the center.
Best Management
Earned the highest management score in Blacklick. This dimension reflects director responsiveness, communication, operational consistency, and the overall tone families experience from leadership.
Full Ranking Detail
childcare
YWCA Kids Place at Blacklick Elementary is an Ohio-licensed, Step Up to Quality-rated school-age program operated by YWCA Columbus at 6540 Havens Corners Road in Blacklick. With over three decades of experience serving 20,000+ students, the program offers before- and after-school care and summer day camp for kindergarten through seventh grade, featuring field trips and enrichment activities. The curriculum emphasizes choice-based, student-led learning combined with STEAM, 30+ minutes of daily physical fitness, and social-emotional development including the Guppy Tank Pitch Challenge entrepreneurship program. Scholarships are available for qualified families. The absence of public parent reviews limits independent verification of the family experience.
Safety5.0
Curriculum8.0
Art / Music7.0
Kindergarten readiness6.0
Teacher quality8.0
Compassion6.0
Management7.0
Culture5.0
Extracurriculars6.0
Programs & curriculum
Curriculum & approach: Choice-based, student-led learning philosophy emphasizing student autonomy and confidence. Integrates social-emotional development so students learn to manage emotions, set goals, express empathy, build positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.
Programs & activities: STEAM curriculum; 30+ minutes daily physical fitness (sports, gym games, active play); social-emotional learning; entrepreneurship (Guppy Tank Pitch Challenge); YKP Juniors Reading & Writing Club; before- and after-school programming and a summer day camp option.
What sets it apart: Step Up to Quality award-rated for all programs; licensed and inspected by Ohio Department of Job and Family Services; 30+ years of service with 20,000+ students served. Staff undergo background checks, physicals, drug screens and education verification; locked doors during program times (Westerville/Gahanna) with emergency drills and police/fire coordination.
Recognition of Excellence — Website Badge
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Top 3 in Blacklick
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Ywca Kids Place At Blacklick Elementary -->
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<strong style="display:block;font-size:15px;color:#1A1A18;margin-bottom:5px;">Top 3 in Blacklick</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Ranked among the top 3 childcare centers in Blacklick across all 11 quality dimensions — placing this center in the very top tier of local options.</span>
</span>
</a>
Best for Safety
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Ywca Kids Place At Blacklick Elementary -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/ohio/major-cities/blacklick/ywca-kids-place-at-blacklick-elementary/" 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;">
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<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 Blacklick. Our safety dimension weighs inspection history, deficiency records, and parent-reported safety culture across reviews.</span>
</span>
</a>
Best Teachers
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Ywca Kids Place At Blacklick Elementary -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/ohio/major-cities/blacklick/ywca-kids-place-at-blacklick-elementary/" 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 - Ywca Kids Place At Blacklick Elementary - Blacklick, 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 Blacklick. 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: Ywca Kids Place At Blacklick Elementary -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/ohio/major-cities/blacklick/ywca-kids-place-at-blacklick-elementary/" 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;">
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<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 Blacklick. 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: Ywca Kids Place At Blacklick Elementary -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/ohio/major-cities/blacklick/ywca-kids-place-at-blacklick-elementary/" 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 - Ywca Kids Place At Blacklick Elementary - Blacklick, 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 Blacklick. This dimension captures how families describe staff empathy, how concerns are handled, and the emotional environment of the center.</span>
</span>
</a>
Best Management
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Ywca Kids Place At Blacklick Elementary -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/ohio/major-cities/blacklick/ywca-kids-place-at-blacklick-elementary/" 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 - Ywca Kids Place At Blacklick Elementary - Blacklick, 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 Blacklick. This dimension reflects director responsiveness, communication, operational consistency, and the overall tone families experience from leadership.</span>
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</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.
