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

Finding the right childcare
in Independence, Ohio

Independence transformed itself into a major business hub with the Rockside Road Business District, home to over 3.8 million square feet of office space serving as a premier technology and information services center in Northeast Ohio. The city was originally called Center before being renamed in 1830, and its early economy was built on farming and sandstone quarrying before the Valley Railroad arrived in 1880. Today Independence is home to the Cleveland Cavaliers' training facility, Cleveland Clinic Courts, which has served as one of the top NBA training facilities since 2007. We analyzed all 4 Ohio-licensed childcare centers in Independence, 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.

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

1
The Goddard School
5701 Lombardo Blvd, Independence, OH 44131
Licensed Child Care Center
SUTQ: Gold
8.2/ 10
Safety
9
Curriculum
9
Art/Music
6
Infant care
8
K-ready
7
Teachers
9
Compassion
9
Mgmt
9
Culture
9
Class sizes
0
Extracurriculars
7

Strengths

  • GreatSchools: 4.8/5 from 15 community reviews; 96% recommend rate from 20 platform reviews
  • Parents say: "We feel very safe sending our son...staff is very friendly and communicate well"
  • Premature infant success story: "born 7 weeks early and teachers truly care for him"
  • Daily Tadpoles app photos; staff know children individually; children go outside even in winter
  • SUTQ Gold (5-star) and NAEYC accredited; academically endorsed curriculum

Considerations

  • Franchise model — quality can vary; no Google Maps reviews publicly accessible to verify
2
The Nest Schools Independence
7000 Rockside Road, Independence, OH 44131
Licensed Child Care Center
SUTQ: Bronze
7.4/ 10
Safety
8
Curriculum
8
Art/Music
6
Infant care
7
K-ready
7
Teachers
8
Compassion
8
Mgmt
7
Culture
7
Class sizes
0
Extracurriculars
8

Strengths

  • Winnie: 5.0/5 from 3 reviews — parents say staff genuinely care about children's growth
  • Reviews: "lots of activities, great food menu, children enjoy going to school"
  • Named age-based rooms from newborns through school-age; outdoor classrooms
  • Play-based Nest curriculum with research-backed health, social-emotional, and language development focus
  • Director holds B.S. Education; daily reporting app; Nest Flex Days for ad-hoc care

Considerations

  • Bronze SUTQ rating
  • Only 3 public reviews on Winnie — limited review base
  • Tuition pricing not published online
3
Independence Montessori & Child Care
6200 Oak Tree Blvd., Independence, OH 44131
Montessori · Licensed Child Care Center
SUTQ: Bronze
6.9/ 10
Safety
7
Curriculum
7
Art/Music
6
Infant care
7
K-ready
7
Teachers
7
Compassion
7
Mgmt
7
Culture
7
Class sizes
0
Extracurriculars
7

Strengths

  • Testimonials: "teachers worked there for years — spacious and clean rooms"; "Montessori program is phenomenal"
  • Featured in Today's Family Magazine (2026) for play-based discovery approach
  • Montessori-based serving 6 weeks to 12 years; 50+ years in Cleveland community
  • Hours 6:30 AM - 6:00 PM; subsidized child care available

Considerations

  • Bronze SUTQ rating
  • One parent noted $340/week cost as a significant expense
  • No transportation provided
4
Independence Co-Operative Nursery Inc
7121 Valley View Rd, Independence, OH 44131
★ 5 (3 Google)    ·  Licensed Child Care Center
SUTQ: NR
6.0/ 10
Safety
6
Curriculum
6
Art/Music
5
Infant care
5
K-ready
6
Teachers
6
Compassion
7
Mgmt
6
Culture
7
Class sizes
0
Extracurriculars
6

Strengths

  • Google: 5.0/5 from 3 reviews — small cooperative preschool with strong community bonds
  • Cooperative model means parent involvement in classroom is built in
  • Ohio-licensed childcare serving Independence families

Considerations

  • Only 3 Google reviews — very limited public feedback
  • SUTQ Not Rated — has not participated in Ohio quality rating system
  • Cooperative model requires parent participation — may not suit all families
No centers match this filter.

Families in this area also explore

← Back to rankings
Recognition of Excellence · Independence, 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