12 preschools near Columbus, OH, including Montessori and other private programs. Compare approach, tuition, hours, and location — then save your shortlist.
Montessori Children's House
950 King Avenue, Columbus, OH 43212
Montessori · Inquire
A Montessori school in the Fifth by Northwest/King Avenue area near Grandview, offering hands-on, self-paced learning.
Published tuition (from the school's own site)- Morning Montessori, 3-Day (age 2.5 only) · Half-day mornings, 3 days/week — $4,500/year
- Morning Montessori, 5-Day · Half-day mornings, 5 days/week — $7,200/year
- Extended-Day Option A · 8:30 AM-2:30 PM (T,W,R) & 8:30-11:30 AM (M,F) — $9,965/year
- Extended-Day Option B · 8:30 AM-2:30 PM (Mon-Fri) — $12,100/year
- Extended Kindergarten (prior Montessori experience required) · 8:30 AM-2:30 PM, 5 days/week — $13,400/year
Program details (from the school's own site)Approach: Montessori; ages 3-6 grouped in one mixed-age classroom (Language, Science, Sensorial, Geography, Practical Life, Mathematics, Art)
Ages served: 2.5 years through kindergarten
Hours: Extended-day/kindergarten 8:30 AM-2:30 PM; morning-only program 8:30-11:30 AM
Meals: Included
Staff ratios: 8:1 student-to-teacher ratio
Teacher credentials: American Montessori Society Full-Member school (established 1977)
Columbus Montessori Education Center
979 S James Road, Columbus, OH 43227
Montessori · Inquire
A Montessori education center on the east side of Columbus emphasizing a multi-year classroom cycle.
Fees: Application fee (per child) $100 · Enrollment deposit $500
Program details (from the school's own site)Approach: Montessori (nonprofit, accredited); three-year cycle with continuity teachers (Practical Life, Sensorial, Language, Mathematics, Culture)
Ages served: 6 weeks through 6th grade; Children's House (preschool) ages 3-6, with 2.5-year-olds sometimes accommodated
Hours: Open Mon-Fri 7:30 AM-6:00 PM; half-day and full-day options with before- and after-care
Staff ratios: Each classroom has 2 teachers with a maximum of 24 children
St. Joseph Montessori School
933 Hamlet Street, Columbus, OH 43201
Montessori · Inquire
A Catholic Montessori school in the Italian Village neighborhood between Ohio State and downtown.
Fees: Application fee $75
Program details (from the school's own site)Approach: Catholic Montessori (Diocese of Columbus); prepared multi-sensory environment (Practical Life, Sensorial, Language, Mathematics, cultural studies, science)
Languages: A foreign language is offered (specific language not named on site)
Extracurricular: Music, art, physical education, and beginning library skills integrated into the program
Ages served: 18 months through 8th grade; Toddler 18 months-3 years, Children's House ages 3-6
Hours: School day 8:10 AM-3:10 PM; before-school care 7:30-8:10 AM; after-school care 3:15-6:00 PM
Teacher credentials: 36 teachers employed; 13 credentialed through the American Montessori Society and 4 working toward certification
Community Montessori Columbus
5400 Karl Road, Columbus, OH 43229
Montessori · Inquire
A nonprofit Montessori preschool and kindergarten on the north side of Columbus.
Published tuition (from the school's own site)- School-year session (37 weeks), income-based sliding scale (min-max) · Full Day 5 days/week (max); minimum reflects Before Care 5-day — $625-$12,950/year
- Summer session (10 weeks) · Varies by schedule — $150-$3,300/year
Fees: Enrollment deposit / PFCC registration (per child; applied to fees) $75
Program details (from the school's own site)Approach: Fully-implemented Montessori (AMI), mixed-age classrooms (Practical Life, Sensorial, Math, Language)
Ages served: 3 to 6 years (preschool & kindergarten)
Hours: Open 7:30 AM-5:30 PM. Full school day 8:30 AM-3:30 PM; partial day 8:30 AM-1:30 PM; before care 7:30-8:30 AM; after care 3:30-5:30 PM
Calendar: Year-round
Meals: Not included — families provide food
Allergy policy: Families provide food-allergy documentation via Ohio DCY forms; milk-substitute request form required and family provides the substitute; served snacks are vegetarian with no shellfish, pork, or beef
Staff ratios: Child-to-staff ratio no more than 12:1 at all times; three adults in each Children's House; maximum group size 24
Teacher credentials: Staff hold Association Montessori International (AMI) diplomas and advanced degrees in education
Discipline: Positive behavior support (listening, modeling grace & courtesy, choice, redirection); no time-out used; protective hold only for immediate safety risk
Sick policy: Exclusion for fever 101F+, difficulty breathing, vomiting more than once, diarrhea (3+ loose stools/24h), eye/skin infections, lice, jaundice; must be symptom-free without medication for 24 hours to return
Withdrawal: Minimum two-week notice for withdrawal
Dress code: Seasonally appropriate, independent-changing clothing; closed-toe hard-soled shoes; weather-appropriate outdoor gear (20F-90F operating range)
Northside Montessori School
2855 Snouffer Road, Columbus, OH 43235
Montessori · Inquire
A Montessori preschool for young children in the far north Columbus area.
Villa Montessori Preschool
8999-A Gemini Parkway, Columbus, OH 43240
Montessori · Inquire
A Montessori and Reggio-inspired preschool in the Polaris area of north Columbus.
Published tuition (from the school's own site)- Infants, 2 days/week · 2 days/week — $1,010/month
- Infants, 5 days/week · 5 days/week — $2,015/month
- Toddlers, 5 days/week · 5 days/week — $1,965/month
- Pre-Primary, 5 days/week · 5 days/week — $1,905/month
- Primary · 5 days/week — $1,685/month
- Extended Primary (Kindergarten) · 5 days/week — $1,780/month
Fees: Registration fee (per child, to register & hold a spot) $150 · Annual registration fee (per child, applied with each September's tuition) $150
Program details (from the school's own site)Approach: Montessori and Reggio-inspired, proprietary 'BeeCurious' framework; mixed-age Primary class (3-6); Extended Primary/Kindergarten adds language, math, art, science, geography, history, cultural studies
Extracurricular: Music, movement, gardening, yoga, painting, sculpting, outdoor play
Ages served: 6 weeks through kindergarten (Infants 6 wks-12 mo, Toddlers 12 mo-2.5 yr, Pre-Primary 2-3 yr, Primary 3-6 yr; Kindergarten from age 4.5+)
Hours: Open 7:00 AM-6:00 PM
Overbrook Preschool
4131 N High Street, Columbus, OH 43214
Play-based · Inquire
A play-based, child-centered weekday preschool in the Clintonville neighborhood.
Published tuition (from the school's own site)- 3-year-olds · 2 half-days/week — $235/month
- Older 3, 4 & 5-year-olds · 3 half-days/week — $325/month
- 4 & 5-year-olds · 4 half-days/week — $405/month
Fees: Registration fee (per child) $60 · Registration fee (per family) $100
Program details (from the school's own site)Approach: Emergent curriculum using The Creative Curriculum and the Ohio Early Learning & Development Standards; playful, child-centered. NAEYC-accredited, Five-Star Step Up to Quality.
Extracurricular: Enrichment classes offered
Ages served: 3 years (turning 3 by 12/31) through 5 years
Calendar: Academic year
Teacher credentials: Teachers hold college degrees and pursue continuing education and in-service training
Potty-training: Required
Discipline: Children are not punished for failure to eat snack or for toileting accidents
Sick policy: Uses a Communicable Disease Chart to guide management of suspected illnesses
Withdrawal: 30 days' written notice required to withdraw; otherwise full tuition due for the withdrawal month
First Community Preschool
1320 Cambridge Boulevard, Columbus, OH 43212
Play-based · Inquire
A church-affiliated play-based preschool near the Marble Cliff/Grandview area following Ohio Early Learning standards.
Published tuition (from the school's own site)- Twogether (2-year-olds with a caregiver) · W & F 9:15-11:15am — $145/month
- Three-year-olds · T & Th 9:00-11:30 — $185/month
- Three-year-olds · M-W-F 9:00-1:00 — $353/month
- Three-year-olds · 5 day 9:00-1:00 — $475/month
- Four- and five-year-olds · M-W-F 9:00-11:30 — $246/month
- Four- and five-year-olds · 5 day 9:00-1:00 — $475/month
Program details (from the school's own site)Approach: Play-based and developmentally appropriate; guided by the Ohio Early Learning and Development Standards
Ages served: 2 years (with a caregiver) through 5 years
Hours: Classes 9:00-11:30am or 9:00-1:00pm (Twogether 9:15-11:15am)
Calendar: Academic year
Indianola Children's Center
1970 Waldeck Avenue, Columbus, OH 43201
Play-based · Inquire
A nonprofit church-based children's center in the University District emphasizing outdoor education and creative play.
Published tuition (from the school's own site)- Toddler (18-29 mo), full-time · Mon-Fri 7am-5:30pm — $310/week
- Toddler (30-36 mo), full-time · Mon-Fri 7am-5:30pm — $300/week
- Preschool (3-5 yr), full-time · Mon-Fri 7am-5:30pm — $290/week
- Preschool, part-time (3 days) · 3 days/week — $211/week
- Drop-in / daily rate · per day — $85/day
Fees: Registration fee (with application) $55
Program details (from the school's own site)Approach: Nonprofit, non-religious center emphasizing peace-making, outdoor education, creative play, and community involvement
Ages served: 18 months through 5 years (Toddlers 18-36 months; Preschool 3-5 years); not licensed for infants under 18 months
Hours: Monday-Friday 7:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Gan Ephraim
2568 E Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43209
Reggio-inspired · Inquire
An Orthodox Jewish preschool in the Bexley area with a Reggio Emilia-inspired curriculum.
Published tuition (from the school's own site)- Age 2.5+, Half Day (9-1) · 9:00am-1:00pm — $7,500/year
- Age 2.5+, Full Day (7:30-5:30) · 7:30am-5:30pm — $13,250/year
- Age 3+, Half Day (9-1) · 9:00am-1:00pm — $7,000/year
- Age 3+, Full Day (7:30-5:30) · 7:30am-5:30pm — $12,700/year
- Age 4+, Full Day (7:30-5:30) · 7:30am-5:30pm — $12,700/year
Fees: Registration fee (one-time) $200
Program details (from the school's own site)Approach: Orthodox Jewish preschool using the Reggio Emilia approach, The Creative Curriculum, and Teaching Strategies GOLD; active, hands-on learning
Languages: Hebrew songs and Jewish studies (holidays, Shabbat)
Extracurricular: Music, art, visiting science educators, Soccer Shots, JumpBunch, occupational therapy; summer camp
Ages served: 2.5 years and older; does not care for infants
Hours: Mon-Thurs 7:30am-5:30pm; Fri 7:30am-2:30pm
Calendar: Academic year
Meals: Not included — families provide food
Allergy policy: Gan Ephraim provides no food; parents send a fruit/vegetable morning snack and a dairy or pareve lunch (non-meat kosher, no choking hazards). Peanut-free when a student in care has an allergy.
Staff ratios: 1:8 for ages 3+ (max group 24); 1:6 for age 2.5 (max group 12)
Teacher credentials: At least one staff member CPR and first-aid certified
Potty-training: Not required
Discipline: Positive reinforcement and redirection; no discipline for failure to eat or toileting accidents; serious behavior may trigger evaluation or disenrollment
Sick policy: Symptomatic children isolated and sent home; readmitted after 24 hours symptom-free
Withdrawal: Disenrollment possible if required forms are refused or a child endangers self/others
Bright Horizons at Capital City
277 E Town Street, Columbus, OH 43215
Preschool · Inquire
An early education and child care center in downtown Columbus serving infants through pre-K.
Program details (from the school's own site)Approach: The World at Their Fingertips curriculum (Language Works, Math Counts, Science Rocks, ArtSmart, Our World, Well Aware); NAEYC accredited
Ages served: 6 weeks - 6 years (infants, toddlers/twos, preschool, kindergarten prep, kindergarten)
Hours: 7:00 AM - 5:30 PM, Monday to Friday
Teacher credentials: Staff trained regularly in CPR even where not state-required
Primrose School of Columbus Downtown
101 E Town Street, Columbus, OH 43215
Preschool · Inquire
An accredited early education and child care center in downtown Columbus serving infants through pre-K.
Program details (from the school's own site)Approach: Balanced Learning curriculum (research-informed, whole-child); SEA and Cognia accredited
Ages served: Infant, Toddler, Early Preschool, Preschool Pathways, Preschool, Pre-Kindergarten
Hours: Monday-Friday, 7:00 am - 6:00 pm
Teacher credentials: Staff CPR and first-aid certified; background-checked
Preschool tuition in Columbus depends on the program, the schedule (half-day vs. full-day), and the approach — Montessori and full-day private programs usually cost more than part-time or co-op options. Where a school publishes pricing it's shown on its listing above; otherwise ask the school for a current quote. Our guide on how much preschool costs shows how to compare the real price, and how to afford preschool covers subsidies, TK, and Head Start that can lower it.
First Cubby lists Montessori, play-based and Reggio Emilia programs in Columbus, among others. Each school's approach is shown on its listing.
Preschool tuition in Columbus varies widely by program, schedule (half- vs. full-day), and approach — Montessori and full-day private programs typically cost more. Pricing is shown on a listing where the school publishes it; otherwise contact the school. Our guide on how much preschool costs explains how to compare the real price, and how to afford preschool covers subsidies and free options.
Yes — 6 Montessori programs are listed in Columbus above. Montessori classrooms are child-led and mixed-age with hands-on materials; see our guide on what Montessori is.
Most standalone preschools in Columbus are private (tuition-based). Free and lower-cost options can exist too — Transitional Kindergarten, state pre-K, and Head Start — which our guides on preschool cost and how to afford preschool explain.
Shortlist nearby schools, then tour your top choices. Our guides on how to choose a preschool and the questions to ask on a tour walk you through it step by step.