Ranked among the top 3 childcare centers in Lima across all 11 quality dimensions — placing this center in the very top tier of local options.
Best Management
Earned the highest management score in Lima. This dimension reflects director responsiveness, communication, operational consistency, and the overall tone families experience from leadership.
Full Ranking Detail
childcare
Central Head Start is a federally-funded Head Start program operated by West Ohio Community Action Partnership (WOCAP), serving Allen County families from its location at 540 S. Central in Lima, Ohio. As an Ohio SUTQ Gold-rated program, it provides comprehensive early education for infants through preschool-age children (birth–5 years) through both center-based and home-based options, including Early Head Start, Head Start, and child care programs. Services encompass educational and nutritional curricula alongside health screenings, parenting classes, and wraparound family support at no cost to income-eligible families. The program operates on a school-year schedule with hours typically 9:00 AM–3:30 PM for Head Start components, though some partnership sites extend to 6:00 AM–6:00 PM year-round.
Safety7.0
Curriculum8.0
Art / Music5.0
Infant care6.0
Kindergarten readiness7.0
Teacher quality8.0
Compassion7.0
Management8.0
Culture7.0
Extracurriculars6.0
Programs & curriculum
Programs & activities: Early Head Start, Head Start, and Child Care programs across 10 locations in Northwest Ohio. A Home Based option is available for children birth to 5 years.
What sets it apart: Serves infants, toddlers, and preschool-aged children. Hours vary by location: most Head Start programs run 9:00am-3:30pm (school year); Early Head Start generally 8:00am-3:30pm year-round; Early Head Start/Child Care partnership sites 6:00am-6:00pm year-round.
Recognition of Excellence — Website Badge
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Top 3 in Lima
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Best Management
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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.
