Best Child Daycare & Preschools in Columbus, OH
Compare 364 child daycare & preschools in Columbus. Average rating: 4.29/5 stars. See top 10 ranked daycares, compare by type, and find the right childcare for your family.
Columbus, Ohio at a glance
- Programs
- 364
- Avg rating
- 4.29/5
- Parent reviews
- 2,364
- Top rated (4.5+)
- 142
Columbus has 364 licensed child daycare & preschools with 2,364 parent reviews averaging 4.29/5.142 are top-rated with 4.5+ stars — 53% of rated programs, well above average.The highest-rated options cluster around 43221 (avg 4.9 stars), while 43224 has the largest selection (36 programs).Start with our top-10 ranked list below or filter by philosophy.
Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in Columbus
Ranked using a weighted score that combines Google rating with the number of parent reviews — daycares with more reviews rank higher than those with a high rating but few reviews. Last updated: March 2026.
- 1Balanced Family Academy4.8 score5(20)
5150 Reed Rd, Columbus, OH · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children
Balanced Family Academy receives unanimous 5-star ratings from parents who praise the exceptional care, communication, and nurturing environment. Parents consistently highlight staff dedication, individualized attention to children, and peace of mind regarding their child's safety and development.
Excellent staff and teacher qualityregular communication with parentsindividualized child caresafe and clean facility - 2Balanced Family Academy Clubhouse4.8 score5(20)
1717 Bethel Rd, Columbus, OH · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children
Balanced Family Academy Clubhouse receives perfect 5/5 ratings from parents who praise exceptional staff care, strong communication, and a welcoming community environment. Parents consistently report feeling confident in their children's safety, development, and well-being at the facility.
Caring and nurturing staffexcellent communication and daily updatesindividual attention to each childclean facility - 3Little Dreamers Big Believers4.8 score5(20)
1347 West Fifth Avenue, Columbus, OH · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children
Parents consistently praise Balanced Family Academy (BFA) for exceptional staff who are caring, attentive, and communicative. First-time parents particularly appreciate the daily updates via the CareDay app and visible emotional security their children display. The facility offers quality meals, engaging activities, and a welcoming environment that makes parents feel confident leaving their children in capable hands.
Caring and attentive teachersdaily photo and text updates via CareDay appfresh homemade meals providedclean and well-organized facilities - 4Meadow Park Children'S Center4.8 score5(20)
2425 Bethel Rd, Columbus, OH · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 186 children
Meadow Park Children's Center receives perfect 5/5 ratings from parents who praise the caring, experienced staff, enriching curriculum centered on play-based learning, and strong communication. Parents highlight the stable environment created by long-tenured teachers, diverse activities, and welcoming community atmosphere.
Experienced and caring staff with high retention rates (10+ years)play-based learning approachvariety of activities (artscience - 5Clintonville Crc Kids Club4.72 score4.9(20)
48 East North Broadway, Columbus, OH · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children
Clintonville CRC Kids Club receives universal praise from community members who describe it as a valuable resource offering food pantry services, support programs, and assistance to those in need. Staff and volunteers are consistently highlighted as friendly, helpful, and passionate about serving the community.
Friendly and helpful staffFresh produce and quality pantry itemsMultiple programs and support servicesWelcoming to all community members - 6Clintonville Crc Kids Club 24.72 score4.9(20)
7 W Henderson Road, Columbus, OH · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children
CLINTONVILLE CRC KIDS CLUB 2 is a community resource center with exceptional staff and programming that serves diverse populations including families in need, seniors, and those experiencing food insecurity. Parents and community members consistently praise the friendly, passionate staff, fresh produce pantry offerings, and comprehensive support services available to the community.
Friendly and helpful stafffresh produce and quality pantry itemswelcoming environm - 7Clintonville Crc Kids Club 34.72 score4.9(20)
35 Oakland Park Ave., Columbus, OH · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children
This facility appears to be a community resource center rather than a traditional daycare, offering pantry services and community support programs. Parents consistently praise the friendly, passionate staff and the quality of fresh produce and assistance provided. Multiple reviewers highlight the organization's significant positive impact on individuals and families in need.
Friendly and helpful stafffresh produce qualitywelcoming environmentcomprehensive commu - 8Mary'S Little Lamb Child Interactive Learning Academy4.72 score4.9(20)
1800 Parsons Ave, Columbus, OH · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children
Parents consistently praise Mary's Little Lamb as an exceptional daycare with outstanding leadership under Ms. Tiffany. Reviews highlight the clean, well-organized facility, caring staff who treat children like family, engaging educational activities, and strong community involvement. Parents report feeling confident leaving their children in this program's care.
Clean facilityprofessional staffpersonalized attention to each childengaging activities and field trips - 9Jolly Tots Too!4.72 score4.9(20)
5511 N. Hamilton Road, Columbus, OH · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 152 children
Jolly Tots Too! receives universal praise from parents across all reviews. Parents consistently highlight the caring, experienced staff, small teacher-to-child ratios, on-site nurse, and nurturing environment that supports children's growth from infancy through Pre-K. Families report feeling confident in the quality of care and describe the center as a loving community where children thrive.
Caring and experienced staffsmall teacher-to-child ratioson-site nurseclean and bright classrooms - 10Our Lady Of Bethlehem4.71 score5(12)
4567 Olentangy River Road, Columbus, OH · Church Daycare · Capacity: -999 children
Our Lady of Bethlehem is a highly regarded religious daycare facility in Columbus, Ohio with universally positive reviews. Parents consistently praise the caring staff, strong academic curriculum, spiritual guidance, and nurturing environment that supports children's development across multiple domains.
Caring and responsive teachersstrong curriculumsmall class sizesindividual attention
Rating Distribution
Based on 268 daycares with Google ratings in Columbus
What Parents Value Most
Top qualities mentioned across 2,364 reviews, analyzed by AI
Daycare Types Compared
Average ratings by facility type in Columbus, based on parent reviews
Best Rated Neighborhoods
Columbus zip codes ranked by average daycare rating
| Zip Code | Daycares | Avg. Rating | Top Rated | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 43221 | 7 | 4.9 | 5 | |
| 43220 | 19 | 4.75 | 9 | |
| 43214 | 19 | 4.75 | 9 | |
| 43240 | 6 | 4.7 | 2 | |
| 43235 | 17 | 4.7 | 3 | |
| 43201 | 8 | 4.64 | 3 | |
| 43215 | 16 | 4.63 | 7 | |
| 43209 | 16 | 4.62 | 5 | |
| 43212 | 8 | 4.56 | 3 | |
| 43224 | 36 | 4.35 | 12 |
Facility Sizes
Capacity distribution of daycares in Columbus (12–312 children)
Small
up to 30 children
8
Medium
31–75 children
64
Large
76–150 children
64
Very Large
150+ children
11
Top Rated
Highest rated daycares in Columbus based on parent reviews
Balanced Family Academy
5150 Reed Rd, Columbus, OH
Balanced Family Academy receives unanimous 5-star ratings from parents who praise the exceptional care, communication, and nurturing environment. Parents consistently highlight staff dedication, individualized attention to children, and peace of mind regarding their child's safety and development.
Balanced Family Academy Clubhouse
1717 Bethel Rd, Columbus, OH
Balanced Family Academy Clubhouse receives perfect 5/5 ratings from parents who praise exceptional staff care, strong communication, and a welcoming community environment. Parents consistently report feeling confident in their children's safety, development, and well-being at the facility.
Little Dreamers Big Believers
1347 West Fifth Avenue, Columbus, OH
Parents consistently praise Balanced Family Academy (BFA) for exceptional staff who are caring, attentive, and communicative. First-time parents particularly appreciate the daily updates via the CareDay app and visible emotional security their children display. The facility offers quality meals, engaging activities, and a welcoming environment that makes parents feel confident leaving their children in capable hands.
Meadow Park Children'S Center
2425 Bethel Rd, Columbus, OH
Meadow Park Children's Center receives perfect 5/5 ratings from parents who praise the caring, experienced staff, enriching curriculum centered on play-based learning, and strong communication. Parents highlight the stable environment created by long-tenured teachers, diverse activities, and welcoming community atmosphere.
Clintonville Crc Kids Club
48 East North Broadway, Columbus, OH
Clintonville CRC Kids Club receives universal praise from community members who describe it as a valuable resource offering food pantry services, support programs, and assistance to those in need. Staff and volunteers are consistently highlighted as friendly, helpful, and passionate about serving the community.
Clintonville Crc Kids Club 2
7 W Henderson Road, Columbus, OH
CLINTONVILLE CRC KIDS CLUB 2 is a community resource center with exceptional staff and programming that serves diverse populations including families in need, seniors, and those experiencing food insecurity. Parents and community members consistently praise the friendly, passionate staff, fresh produce pantry offerings, and comprehensive support services available to the community.
Map
Daycare types in Columbus
Browse by type in Columbus
Child Daycare & Preschools in Columbus, Ohio
Navigating childcare options in Columbus, Ohio, involves exploring a diverse landscape of 364 facilities, ranging from large centers to intimate home-based programs. Parents frequently highlight clean environments and safe settings as key priorities, often noting their children's excitement to attend. With a standout neighborhood in the 43221 zip code offering exceptional ratings, families have multiple pathways to find a supportive community for their little ones.
Based on Google reviews, daycares in Columbus have an average rating of 4.29 out of 5 across 268 rated facilities, with 53% scoring 4.5 stars or higher. Church Daycare facilities lead with an average of 4.85 stars. Our analysis covers 2,364 parent reviews. Parents in Columbus most frequently praise daycares for clean facility, safe environment, and children excited to attend.
When choosing a daycare in Columbus, consider visiting facilities in person, checking their licensing status, and asking about staff-to-child ratios, daily routines, and safety policies.
All Child Daycare & Preschools in Columbus
Showing 364 results
Christian Community Connection Child Care Center in Columbus has highly polarized reviews. While one parent praised the staff and care, multiple parents reported serious concerns including inadequate incident reporting, unsafe transportation practices, preferential treatment of the owner's children, and staffing ratio issues.
- Address
- 2410 Park Crescent Drive, Columbus, OH
- Phone
- (614) 864-9189
Hamilton Local Preschool in Columbus, Ohio has received overwhelmingly negative reviews (2.2/5 rating), with parents citing severe overcrowding, poor administration, lack of enrichment activities, and staff conduct issues. Only one parent gave a positive review. Common complaints include large class sizes (27+ students), bullying without intervention, disrespectful teacher behavior, and inadequate support for students with disabilities.
- Address
- 775 Rathmell Rd, Columbus, OH
- Phone
- (614) 491-8044
Daycare R uses has mixed reviews with stark contrasts in parent experiences. Positive reviews praise staff kindness, regular parent communication, and summer activities, with one parent willing to drive out of their way to attend. However, multiple negative reviews raise serious safety and operational concerns, including improper car seat use, staff misconduct, understaffing, overcrowding, and non-compliance with state regulations.
- Address
- 2241 Agler Rd, Columbus, OH
- Phone
- (614) 586-3881
The Gathering Place Academy in Columbus has highly polarized reviews with a 2.1/5 rating. One long-term parent praised the director, staff responsiveness, and facility improvements, while four other parents reported serious concerns including rude staff, safety issues, alleged mistreatment of disabled children, and billing problems.
- Address
- 3550 E. Deshler Ave, Columbus, OH
- Phone
- (614) 231-8910
Feedback for Daydream Daycare in Columbus is sharply divided, with one parent praising the service and care while another describes the facility as horrible and notes that staff ignore phone calls. A third review calls for an investigation into the center's operations.
- Address
- 3077 Fisher Road, Columbus, OH
- Phone
- (614) 477-0497
Parents report serious concerns across multiple locations of HSD Academy Daycare Center. Reviews consistently cite unprofessional staff behavior, organizational failures, inadequate nutrition, and poor communication. The director is noted as kind, but parents indicate these issues were not resolved.
- Address
- 1485 East Livingston Ave, Columbus, OH
- Phone
- (614) 564-9278
One parent states, "We know what you are doing," suggesting concerns about the facility's practices. No positive feedback is currently available for this center.
- Address
- 3030 Sullivant Ave, Columbus, OH
- Phone
- (614) 815-9694
- Address
- 4152 1/2 West Broad St, Columbus, OH
- Phone
- (614) 589-0876
- Address
- 4200 E Fifth Ave, Columbus, OH
- Phone
- (614) 752-0735
Parent reviews are mixed. Most reviewers (6 five-star ratings) praise the curriculum, caring staff, clean facilities, and nurturing environment, reporting significant developmental progress in their children. However, negative reviews (3 low ratings) cite inconsistent staffing, poor front desk customer service, inadequate nutrition planning, and unresponsive administrative processes.
- Address
- 2800 Inspire Drive, Columbus, OH
- Phone
- (614) 706-3300
- Address
- 4600 Heaton Road, Columbus, OH
- Phone
- (614) 888-8829
- Address
- 2261 S. Hamilton Rd, Columbus, OH
- Phone
- (614) 339-6805
- Address
- 2155 Fenton St, Columbus, OH
- Phone
- (614) 262-7520
- Address
- 3710 Cleveland Ave, Columbus, OH
- Phone
- (614) 532-5454
Brightside Academy Ohio receives consistently high praise from parents, with all reviews rating it 5/5 stars. Parents highlight the caring, dedicated staff and directors who treat children as their own, along with a clean, secure facility that encourages children's learning and happiness.
- Address
- 660 Harrisburg Pike, Columbus, OH
- Phone
- (614) 227-0652
Brightside Academy Ohio receives consistently excellent feedback from parents, with all reviews rating the center 5 stars. Parents praise Director Desiree and staff for their warmth, professionalism, responsiveness, and genuine care for both children and families. The center is noted for maintaining cleanliness, supporting developmental milestones like potty training, and creating a welcoming, family-like environment.
- Address
- 3525 Cleveland Ave, Columbus, OH
- Phone
- (614) 262-5431
- Address
- 1450 E Main St, Columbus, OH
- Phone
- (614) 826-4500
- Address
- 1755 Linden Place, Columbus, OH
- Phone
- (614) 447-1700
One parent describes the service as great, highlighting a positive experience. This single review suggests satisfaction with the center's operations.
- Address
- 1111 Polaris Parkway, Columbus, OH
- Phone
- (614) 217-4131
- Address
- 2235 Stelzer Road, Columbus, OH
- Phone
- (614) 471-5970
- Address
- 2693 Mock Rd, Columbus, OH
- Phone
- (614) 934-7696
- Address
- 2545 Petzinger Rd, Columbus, OH
- Phone
- (614) 338-6405
- Address
- 2545 Petzinger Rd, Columbus, OH
- Phone
- (614) 338-6405
Columbus Early Learning Centers - Eastside receives mostly positive reviews praising staff quality, cleanliness, and safety. However, one review raises serious concerns about management practices, staff treatment, and facility maintenance issues.
- Address
- 240 N. Champion Ave., Columbus, OH
- Phone
- (614) 253-5525
One parent describes a positive experience, praising the friendly staff for their care of their son, while another reports a serious safety concern regarding repeated biting incidents and inadequate administrative response. The few reviews so far highlight both affectionate care and significant operational failures.
- Address
- 1150 E. Main Street, Columbus, OH
- Phone
- (614) 253-7267
One parent highlights the center's strong trust and personalized care for their autistic child, while others report negative experiences involving a teacher who labeled a student as the 'class clown' and displayed a dismissive attitude during parent conferences.
- Address
- 1400 Myrtle, Columbus, OH
- Phone
- (614) 253-5525
- Address
- 2222 Eakin Rd., Columbus, OH
- Phone
- (614) 419-8326
- Address
- 3425 Great Western Blvd., Columbus, OH
- Phone
- (614) 230-2001
- Address
- 3675 Sullivant Ave, Columbus, OH
- Phone
- (614) 564-9537
- Address
- 3879 S. High Street, Columbus, OH
- Phone
- (614) 491-9453
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Frequently asked questions
- Licensing status with Ohio's regulatory agency
- Staff-to-child ratios (requirements vary by age group in Ohio)
- Safety measures and cleanliness
- Daily routines and educational curriculum
- Parent reviews and ratings
- Location and hours that fit your schedule
- Child Daycare & Preschools — 364 facilities
- Headstart Programs — 21 facilities
- Church Daycare — 21 facilities
- Before or After School Daycare — 74 facilities