Recognition of Excellence · Ohio · 2026

The 100 Best Childcare, Daycare, Montessori & Preschools in Ohio

The highest-scoring licensed childcare centers in the state — fewer than 1 in 41 make this list, ranked on the evidence alone.

4,159Centers ranked

Top 100Earn this rating

1 in 41Make the list

Every one of the 4,159 licensed childcare centers, daycares, Montessori schools and preschools we could verify across Ohio was independently scored for 2026 on the same 0–10 scale. Each score is built from eleven quality dimensions — safety, curriculum, teacher quality, infant and toddler care, kindergarten readiness, class sizes, management and more — by combining public parent feedback with official state licensing and inspection records. Nothing here can be bought: no center can pay to appear, move up, or change a score, and we accept no payment from any center to be ranked. After scoring, all 4,159 centers were ranked head-to-head by overall quality, and only the top 100 earned a place on this page — fewer than 1 in 41 centers in Ohio. Reaching it means out-scoring more than 4,059 other centers competing across the state, which is exactly why a spot here is so hard to earn.

Read the full methodology →

1Empower Learn CreateCincinnati, Ohio8.7/10 2Mini Miracles Mega CenterCleveland, Ohio8.5/10 3Bombeck Family Learning CenterDayton, Ohio8.4/10 4Papillion Enrichment Center Unit 1 & 5Concord Twsp & Willoughbyhills, Painesvillie & Willoughby Hill, Ohio8.4/10 5The Agape Butterfly SchoolHilliard, Ohio8.4/10 6Bridgeway AcademyColumbus, Ohio8.3/10 7Fatima Child Enrichment CenterCleveland, Ohio8.3/10 8The Goddard SchoolClevland & Highland Hghts & Pepper Pike & Warrensville Height, Ohio8.3/10 9Agape AcademyHilliard, Ohio8.2/10 10Agape Children'S CenterCincinnati, Ohio8.2/10 11The Goddard SchoolIndependence, Ohio8.2/10 12The Goddard School In Avon LakeAvon Lake, Ohio8.2/10 13The Goddard School Of GrandviewGrandview Heights & Lockbourne, Ohio8.2/10 14Head Start/Early Head Start Life Learning CenterCincinnati, Ohio8.1/10 15Little FootstepsCleveland, Ohio8.1/10 16Medo 2 AcademyHilliard, Ohio8.1/10 17Primrose School At PinnacleGrove City, Ohio8.1/10 18Primrose School Of Hilliard WestHilliard, Ohio8.1/10 19Caa Head Start-MillvaleCincinnati, Ohio8.0/10 20Caa Winton Head StartCincinnati, Ohio8.0/10 21Green Meadows SchoolhousePowell, Ohio8.0/10 22Imaginative Beginnings Early Learning Center LlcGrand Rapids & Millbury & Northwood, Ohio8.0/10 23Sinclair College Childhood Education CentersDayton, Ohio8.0/10 24Small Wonders Discovery & Learning CenterE Liverpool & Leetonia & Salineville, Ohio8.0/10 25Small Wonders Discovery & Learning CenterSalem, Ohio8.0/10 26The Goddard SchoolNorth Ridgevill, Ohio8.0/10 27Busy Building Blocks Academy Llc.Cincinnati, Ohio7.9/10 28Chai TotsMason, Ohio7.9/10 29Clever Bee Academy- Cleveland AveColumbus, Ohio7.9/10 30Clever Bee Academy- LivingstonColumbus, Ohio7.9/10 31Clever Bee Academy- Northern LightsColumbus, Ohio7.9/10 32Ohio Northern University Child Development CenterAda, Ohio7.9/10 33Primrose School Of Hilliard At Mill RunHilliard, Ohio7.9/10 34Sonshine SchoolGranville, Ohio7.9/10 35Totally Kids Learning CenterCincinnati, Ohio7.9/10 36William L Mallory Early Learning CenterCincinnati, Ohio7.9/10 37Almost Home Daycare, LlcNewark, Ohio7.8/10 38Champion Learning CenterCincinnati, Ohio7.8/10 39Child Focus Early Learning Program In EastgateCincinnati, Ohio7.8/10 40Child Focus Learning Center ICincinnati, Ohio7.8/10 41Child Focus Learning Center IiCincinnati, Ohio7.8/10 42Cincinnati Nature Center PreschoolMilford, Ohio7.8/10 43Columbus Early Learning CentersColumbus, Ohio7.8/10 44Columbus Early Learning Centers - Alum CreekColumbus, Ohio7.8/10 45Columbus Early Learning Centers - EastsideColumbus, Ohio7.8/10 46Columbus Early Learning Centers - Main StreetColumbus, Ohio7.8/10 47Columbus Early Learning Centers - MyrtleColumbus, Ohio7.8/10 48Daddy'S Daycare Child Development CenterCincinnati, Ohio7.8/10 49Esther Jetter Preschool At Mt. Vernon Nazarene Univ.Mount Vernon, Ohio7.8/10 50Green Bean Junction, LlcLancaster, Ohio7.8/10 51Hope Lutheran PreschoolAkron, Ohio7.8/10 52Kindercare Learning Center #1677Akron, Ohio7.8/10 53Knox County Head Start Northgate CenterMount Vernon, Ohio7.8/10 54New Hope Early Education Center Head StartMount Vernon, Ohio7.8/10 55Small Hands Big Dreams Learning Centers - Kirtland Inc.Kirtland, Ohio7.8/10 56Cdc-Hilliard Head StartHilliard, Ohio7.7/10 57Cdcfc - King Arts ComplexColumbus, Ohio7.7/10 58Christian Village AcademyCanal Wincheste, Ohio7.7/10 59Cleveland Child Care Inc (Gilbert)Cleveland, Ohio7.7/10 60Corban Early Learning CenterCincinnati, Ohio7.7/10 61Eick Global Stem AcademyMonroe, Ohio7.7/10 62Gahanna Children'S CollegeGahanna, Ohio7.7/10 63Goddard SchoolAvon, Ohio7.7/10 64Head Start At David BaconTallmadge, Ohio7.7/10 65Head Start At Oak CreekAkron, Ohio7.7/10 66Little Footprints Learning CenterCincinnati, Ohio7.7/10 67Little Village KidsFairfield, Ohio7.7/10 68Mckinley Early Childhood Center #2Akron, Ohio7.7/10 69New Pathways Child Development CenterFairfield, Ohio7.7/10 70Peacox Child CareCanal Winchester, Ohio7.7/10 71Superior AcademyCleveland, Ohio7.7/10 72Sweet Kiddles Flexible Childcare CenterCleveland, Ohio7.7/10 73The Cleveland Music School Settlement PreschoolCleveland, Ohio7.7/10 74The Cleveland Music School Settlement/ The Music Settlement Ohio CityCleveland, Ohio7.7/10 75The Nest Schools Shaker HeightsShaker Heights, Ohio7.7/10 76The Preschool Around The CornerCanton, Ohio7.7/10 77Tiny Steps Development Center Inc.Cincinnati, Ohio7.7/10 78Trease Road Child Care CenterWadsworth, Ohio7.7/10 79Waverly'S Hope Child CareCincinnati, Ohio7.7/10 80Ymca Early Learning Center - Walnut HillsCincinnati, Ohio7.7/10 81Allie'S Child Development Center 2Fairfield, Ohio7.6/10 82Guardian Angels Learning CenterCleveland, Ohio7.6/10 83Head Start At BarbertonBarberton, Ohio7.6/10 84Jelly Bean Junction Learning CenterAmelia, Ohio7.6/10 85Jelly Bean Junction Learning CenterMilford, Ohio7.6/10 86Kid Works Of HamiltonHamilton, Ohio7.6/10 87Mckinley Early Childhood Center #4Akron, Ohio7.6/10 88Miami University - Campus KidsHamilton, Ohio7.6/10 89Middletown Christian Early Learning CenterMiddletown, Ohio7.6/10 90Nanny'S Multilevel Learning Center, IncCincinnati, Ohio7.6/10 91Pleasurable Child Care Center IiCleveland, Ohio7.6/10 92Royal Beginnings Childcare Center LlcCleveland, Ohio7.6/10 93Tdaddydaycare LlcCincinnati, Ohio7.6/10 94Tender Tots DaycareCincinnati, Ohio7.6/10 95The Goddard School Of LovelandLoveland, Ohio7.6/10 96The Salvation Army Learning CenterCincinnati, Ohio7.6/10 97Theodore M. Berry Children And Family Learning CenteCincinnati, Ohio7.6/10 98Wesley Education Center For Children & FamiliesCincinnati, Ohio7.6/10 99Ymca Batavia Heights Christian Child CareBatavia, Ohio7.6/10 100Young Scholars AcademyCincinnati, Ohio7.6/10

Looking for a specific city or town? Browse every ranked Ohio center by city →

Rankings are produced independently by Creative Minds Montessori and reflect our own analysis of public data as of 2026. They are informational only and are not an endorsement, guarantee, or substitute for a family's own visit and due diligence. Overall scores are on a 0–10 scale across eleven quality dimensions. Who we are & editorial policy · Methodology.