Portsmouth, OH · Scioto · Based on public reviews & parent communities

Finding the right childcare
in Portsmouth, Ohio

Portsmouth's history runs deep: the city was a vital stop on the Underground Railroad, and James Ashley of Portsmouth drafted the Thirteenth Amendment abolishing slavery. In the early 1900s, Portsmouth thrived as an industrial powerhouse, ranking as the nation's fourth-largest shoe manufacturing center and its largest maker of fire and paving bricks. Today, Portsmouth's mile-long floodwall murals tell the story of this rich heritage, transforming the city's riverfront into an open-air gallery of local history. We analyzed all 9 Ohio-licensed childcare centers in Portsmouth, 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
18,500City population
Sort by
🔍
Score key
9–10 exceptional
7–8 strong
4–6 average or below

1
Highland Head Start
1511 Hutchins Street, Portsmouth, OH 45662
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

  • SUTQ Gold-rated Head Start on Hutchins Street — recognized highest quality federally funded preschool
  • Comprehensive early childhood services for income-eligible 3-5 year olds
  • Accepts PFCC vouchers; Ohio-licensed

Considerations

    2
    Kendall Heights Head Start
    1908 Wayne Avenue, Portsmouth, OH 45662
    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

    • SUTQ Gold-rated Head Start on Wayne Avenue — described as "a home away from home" for children
    • Federally funded comprehensive early childhood services for eligible Portsmouth families
    • Accepts PFCC vouchers; Ohio-licensed

    Considerations

      3
      Portsmouth West Head Start
      15332A Us Hwy 52, Portsmouth, OH 45662
      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

      • SUTQ Gold-rated Head Start serving western Portsmouth/rural Scioto County families
      • Federally funded comprehensive early childhood services for income-eligible children ages 3-5
      • Accepts PFCC vouchers; Ohio-licensed

      Considerations

        4
        Shawnee State University Children'S Learning Center
        1240 Third Street, Portsmouth, OH 45662
        ★ 4.2 (20 Google)    ·  Licensed Child Care Center
        SUTQ: Gold
        6.3/ 10
        Safety
        5
        Curriculum
        8
        Art/Music
        5
        Infant care
        5
        K-ready
        6
        Teachers
        8
        Compassion
        6
        Mgmt
        8
        Culture
        6
        Class sizes
        0
        Extracurriculars
        6

        Strengths

        • 4.2-star Google rating (20 reviews)
        • University-affiliated quality program
        • Ohio Step Up To Quality rated

        Considerations

          5
          Roots Child Care Center
          1210 Milldale Road, Portsmouth, OH 45662
          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

          • SUTQ Gold-rated; encourages children to explore and create through play-based learning
          • After-school care available; participates in subsidized child care program
          • Ohio-licensed childcare center serving Portsmouth families
          • Accepts publicly funded child care (PFCC) vouchers

          Considerations

            6
            Temple Tots And Teens Center
            1148 Gallia Street, Portsmouth, OH 45662
            ★ 3.7 (2 Google)    ·  Licensed Child Care Center
            SUTQ: Silver
            6.0/ 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
            6

            Strengths

            • Ohio Step Up To Quality rated: Silver — recognized quality program
            • Accepts publicly funded child care (PFCC) vouchers — accessible to subsidy-eligible families
            • Ohio-licensed childcare center serving the local community

            Considerations

              7
              Carousel Center Head Start
              1112 Gallia Street, Portsmouth, OH 45662
              Head Start · Licensed Child Care Center
              SUTQ: NR
              5.2/ 10
              Safety
              5
              Curriculum
              6
              Art/Music
              5
              Infant care
              5
              K-ready
              5
              Teachers
              6
              Compassion
              5
              Mgmt
              5
              Culture
              5
              Class sizes
              0
              Extracurriculars
              5

              Strengths

              • Federally funded Head Start at 1112 Gallia Street serving low-income families in Portsmouth
              • Comprehensive early childhood services with school readiness focus for ages 3-5
              • Accepts PFCC vouchers; Ohio-licensed

              Considerations

                8
                Farley Square Head Start
                1221 Farley Court, Portsmouth, OH 45662
                Head Start · Licensed Child Care Center
                SUTQ: NR
                5.2/ 10
                Safety
                5
                Curriculum
                6
                Art/Music
                5
                Infant care
                5
                K-ready
                5
                Teachers
                6
                Compassion
                5
                Mgmt
                5
                Culture
                5
                Class sizes
                0
                Extracurriculars
                5

                Strengths

                • Federally funded Head Start at Farley Court serving low-income Portsmouth families
                • School readiness focus for ages 3-5; comprehensive health and nutrition support
                • Accepts PFCC vouchers; Ohio-licensed

                Considerations

                  9
                  Portsmouth Childcare & Preschool
                  4324 Old Scioto Trail, Portsmouth, OH 45662
                  Licensed Child Care Center
                  SUTQ: NR
                  5.2/ 10
                  Safety
                  5
                  Curriculum
                  6
                  Art/Music
                  5
                  Infant care
                  5
                  K-ready
                  5
                  Teachers
                  6
                  Compassion
                  5
                  Mgmt
                  5
                  Culture
                  5
                  Class sizes
                  0
                  Extracurriculars
                  5

                  Strengths

                  • Ohio-licensed childcare and preschool on Old Scioto Trail serving Portsmouth families
                  • SUTQ NR; accepts PFCC vouchers

                  Considerations

                    No centers match this filter.

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                    Recognition of Excellence · Portsmouth, OH · 2026
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