Ranked among the top 10 childcare centers in Portsmouth. Fewer than half of all centers in the city reach this level across our full 11-dimension scoring.
Best Teachers
Earned the highest teacher quality score in Portsmouth. 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 Portsmouth. This dimension evaluates structured learning, developmental programming, and how well daily activities prepare children for each stage.
Best Infant Care
Earned the highest infant care score in Portsmouth. This dimension focuses on caregiver ratios, responsiveness, feeding and sleep routines, and parent feedback specific to infant rooms.
Best Management
Earned the highest management score in Portsmouth. This dimension reflects director responsiveness, communication, operational consistency, and the overall tone families experience from leadership.
Best Extracurriculars
Earned the highest extracurricular score in Portsmouth. This dimension covers enrichment programs — languages, STEM, yoga, cooking, field trips, and other activities beyond the core curriculum.
Full Ranking Detail
childcare
Shawnee State University Children's Learning Center is a university-affiliated, NAEYC-accredited center-based provider at 1240 Third Street in Portsmouth, Ohio, serving infants through school-age children (6 weeks to 12 years). The center maintains strong credentials: Ohio Step Up To Quality rated, it holds the distinction of being the first nationally NAEYC-accredited program in Scioto County (established 2004), and carries a solid 4.2-star Google rating from 20 reviews. Its curriculum follows Developmentally Appropriate Practices aligned with NAEYC guidelines and Ohio Department of Education standards, with a play-based philosophy grounded in developmental theory and Reggio Emilia principles, delivered through circle time, outdoor learning, sensory-motor play, and centers-based activities. Staffed with degreed teachers supported by university student teaching assistants, the center operates Monday–Friday, 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM, with individual key-code security, live HD camera streaming in all classrooms and playgrounds, and USDA-compliant meals.
Safety5.0
Curriculum8.0
Art / Music5.0
Infant care5.0
Kindergarten readiness6.0
Teacher quality8.0
Compassion6.0
Management8.0
Culture6.0
Extracurriculars6.0
Programs & curriculum
Curriculum & approach: Developmentally Appropriate Practices (DAP) following NAEYC guidelines and Ohio Department of Education early learning content standards. Play-based philosophy drawing on Piaget, Vygotsky, Montessori, Erikson, and the Reggio Emilia approach.
Programs & activities: Circle time, outdoor learning experiences, sensory-motor play, centers-based activities, and hands-on activities.
What sets it apart: First nationally NAEYC-accredited program in Scioto County (2004). Security via individual key codes and live HD camera streaming in all classrooms and playgrounds; meals meet U.S.D.A. guidelines. Hours Monday-Friday 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM; serves ages 6 weeks to 12 years; degreed teachers with university student teaching assistants.
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 badge on your website. Paste the snippet below into your site's HTML — it links back to this verified recognition page.
Top 10 in Portsmouth
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Shawnee State University Children'S Learning Center -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/ohio/major-cities/portsmouth/shawnee-state-university-children-s-learning-center/" 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/rank-10-city.jpg" alt="Top 10 in Portsmouth - Shawnee State University Children'S Learning Center - Portsmouth, 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;">Top 10 in Portsmouth</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Ranked among the top 10 childcare centers in Portsmouth. Fewer than half of all centers in the city reach this level across our full 11-dimension scoring.</span>
</span>
</a>
Best Teachers
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Shawnee State University Children'S Learning Center -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/ohio/major-cities/portsmouth/shawnee-state-university-children-s-learning-center/" 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 - Shawnee State University Children'S Learning Center - Portsmouth, 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 Portsmouth. 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: Shawnee State University Children'S Learning Center -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/ohio/major-cities/portsmouth/shawnee-state-university-children-s-learning-center/" 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-curriculum.jpg" alt="Best Curriculum - Shawnee State University Children'S Learning Center - Portsmouth, 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 Curriculum</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Earned the highest curriculum score in Portsmouth. This dimension evaluates structured learning, developmental programming, and how well daily activities prepare children for each stage.</span>
</span>
</a>
Best Infant Care
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Shawnee State University Children'S Learning Center -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/ohio/major-cities/portsmouth/shawnee-state-university-children-s-learning-center/" 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-infant.jpg" alt="Best Infant Care - Shawnee State University Children'S Learning Center - Portsmouth, 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 Infant Care</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Earned the highest infant care score in Portsmouth. This dimension focuses on caregiver ratios, responsiveness, feeding and sleep routines, and parent feedback specific to infant rooms.</span>
</span>
</a>
Best Management
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Shawnee State University Children'S Learning Center -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/ohio/major-cities/portsmouth/shawnee-state-university-children-s-learning-center/" 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 - Shawnee State University Children'S Learning Center - Portsmouth, 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 Portsmouth. This dimension reflects director responsiveness, communication, operational consistency, and the overall tone families experience from leadership.</span>
</span>
</a>
Best Extracurriculars
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: Shawnee State University Children'S Learning Center -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/ohio/major-cities/portsmouth/shawnee-state-university-children-s-learning-center/" 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-extra.jpg" alt="Best Extracurriculars - Shawnee State University Children'S Learning Center - Portsmouth, 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 Extracurriculars</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Earned the highest extracurricular score in Portsmouth. This dimension covers enrichment programs — languages, STEM, yoga, cooking, field trips, and other activities beyond the core curriculum.</span>
</span>
</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.
