1. Community Montessori Columbus
5400 Karl Road, Columbus, OH 43229
Montessori · Inquire
Why it stands out: Published tuition · Staff ratios listed · Detailed policies
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)
2. Gan Ephraim
2568 E Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43209
Reggio-inspired · Inquire
Why it stands out: Published tuition · Staff ratios listed · Detailed policies
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
3. Montessori Children's House
950 King Avenue, Columbus, OH 43212
Montessori · Inquire
Why it stands out: Published tuition · Staff ratios listed
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)
4. Overbrook Preschool
4131 N High Street, Columbus, OH 43214
Play-based · Inquire
Why it stands out: Published tuition · Detailed policies
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
5. Indianola Children's Center
1970 Waldeck Avenue, Columbus, OH 43201
Play-based · Inquire
Why it stands out: Published tuition
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.
6. Villa Montessori Preschool
8999-A Gemini Parkway, Columbus, OH 43240
Montessori · Inquire
Why it stands out: Published tuition
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
7. First Community Preschool
1320 Cambridge Boulevard, Columbus, OH 43212
Play-based · Inquire
Why it stands out: Published tuition
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
8. Columbus Montessori Education Center
979 S James Road, Columbus, OH 43227
Montessori · Inquire
Why it stands out: Staff ratios listed
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
9. St. Joseph Montessori School
933 Hamlet Street, Columbus, OH 43201
Montessori · Inquire
Why it stands out: Program details
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
10. Bright Horizons at Capital City
277 E Town Street, Columbus, OH 43215
Preschool · Inquire
Why it stands out: Program details
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
11. Primrose School of Columbus Downtown
101 E Town Street, Columbus, OH 43215
Preschool · Inquire
Why it stands out: Program details
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
12. Northside Montessori School
2855 Snouffer Road, Columbus, OH 43235
Montessori · Inquire
See the listing for details, then confirm with the school.
A Montessori preschool for young children in the far north Columbus area.
First Cubby ranks the 12 preschools it tracks in Columbus by how much verified, published information each one shares — state licensing and inspection records, published tuition, staff ratios, and program details — so you can compare the programs you can actually vet. The order is a transparency ranking, not a subjective quality score; tour your shortlist before deciding.
We order schools by the depth of verified, published data a parent can check: a verified state child-care license with a clean inspection record, published tuition, listed staff-to-child ratios, and detailed policies. We never take payment to rank a school and we never invent numbers — a blank means the school hasn't published it.
7 of the programs here publish their tuition, shown on each listing. Cost varies by schedule and approach; our guide on how much preschool costs explains how to compare the real price, and how to afford preschool covers subsidies, TK, and Head Start.