A New Start in Dayton, OH

Pros

• The school definitely deserves a 5-star rating.
• Families love A Great Start Preschool.
• Parents are glad they chose A Great Start Preschool.
• The school offers many fun activities for kids and their families.
• Children have so much fun at the school that they don't want to come home.
• Children make great friends who attend the school's events.
• The school makes families feel welcomed.
• Christina Miller is an outstanding director and the staff are awesome.
• The staff care deeply about the kids.
• The teachers are wonderful and prepare children well for all aspects of school.
• The program helps children become kindergarten-ready and supports lifelong learning.
• The experience is superb with unmatched quality of teachers, staff, and facilities.

Cons

• They were sad that they couldn't stay there forever.

Review

A great fit here is families in Dayton who want more than just babysitting for their preschooler: they want a nurturing, well-run program that centers kindergarten readiness, social development, and a strong sense of community. The reviews consistently portray A Great Start Preschool as a place where children are welcomed, known by name, and guided by a teacher team and a director who treat education as a serious, family-oriented mission. The environment is described as clean, safety-conscious, and highly organized, with parents invited into the process through volunteering and regular communication. For families who value continuity - children staying for multiple years and forming lasting friendships - the program stands out as a stable, trusted path from toddler years through the early school years.

Those considering alternatives should weigh the time and involvement this program expects from families. If a family needs minimal volunteer duties, more flexible hours beyond a traditional school day, or a different curricular emphasis (for example, a more intensive STEM focus, exclusive religious programming, or bilingual immersion), other centers may better align with those preferences. The very strengths here - exceptional staff, accessible administration, and a hands-on parental role - can feel burdensome to families with limited bandwidth or different scheduling needs. In short, this is not a one-size-fits-all solution; it rewards deep family engagement and consistency, while others may offer greater flexibility or different pedagogical emphases.

The core pros center on people, safety, and prepared readiness. Reviewers repeatedly highlight the director - Christina Miller - and a team of teachers who are described as caring, talented, patient, and highly competent. The administration is praised for efficiency, safety oversight, and keeping families informed, which translates into a low-anxiety preschool experience for parents. Kids are said to look forward to school, make meaningful social connections, and progress toward kindergarten readiness in a structured, age-appropriate way. The program's "extras" and the sense of a family, not just a classroom, emerge as recurring themes, with many families noting how the director and staff remember students and families long after an individual child moves on.

Where the conversation tends to be quiet on the pages is around potential drawbacks. The strongest plausible cons are related to fit rather than fault. The emphasis on parental involvement can be a double-edged sword: it builds community and trust but may impose time commitments that some families cannot meet. The focus is clearly preschool through early elementary readiness, which means families seeking extended-day care, nontraditional hours, or a broader age span might want to compare other centers. Finally, since the praise centers on a single location with a tightly-knit network of families, those seeking a sprawling chain with multiple campus options or more standardized, bottom-line pricing may find the scale or feel different elsewhere.

What makes the positives meaningful enough to offset the cautions is the level of trust and demonstrable outcomes documented by dozens of satisfied families. The staff's consistency, the director's accessibility, and the program's safety-first mindset transform daily routines into reliable, low-stress experiences for both children and parents. The genuine emphasis on social development - sharing, cooperation, and peer relationships - complements the academic foundations, so children leave better equipped for kindergarten and beyond. The family-centric culture also means issues - when they arise - are addressed quickly, which in turn reduces parental anxiety and reinforces confidence in the school's direction.

For families seriously considering this option, the practical move is simple: schedule a visit to see the classroom dynamics, meet Christina Miller in person, and observe how the team handles daily routines, safety practices, and parent communication. Ask about class sizes, turnover, and the cadence of the end-of-year program, as well as opportunities to volunteer and participate in events. Clarify whether the calendar aligns with your family's schedule and budget, and whether there are any flexibility options if changes occur. If a preschool experience defined by exceptional teachers, a decisive, organized administration, and a warm, family-oriented culture matches the priorities, this Dayton program deserves strong consideration as a premier choice for early education and kindergarten readiness.

This area of Dayton, Ohio is a bustling hub of healthcare facilities, with numerous physicians' offices and hospitals nearby for easy access to medical care. There are also several pharmacies in the vicinity for convenient medication pick-ups. For recreation, there are parks within a short driving distance, offering opportunities for leisurely walks and outdoor activities. In terms of dining options, there are various restaurants and cafes to choose from, catering to different tastes. Additionally, transportation services like Yellow Cab and U-Haul Moving & Storage are available for easy mobility around the area. Overall, this neighborhood provides a well-rounded mix of amenities and services that would be beneficial for senior living.

Physicians

• Southwest Ear and Throat Specialist (0.8 miles)
• Schear Family Practice Network (1.7 miles)
• Dayton Pain Center (1.8 miles)
• Adam Jeffery S MD (1.8 miles)
• Miami Valley Hospital Pain Center (2.4 miles)
• Miami Valley Heart & Lung Surgeons (2.5 miles)
• Wright State Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine (2.5 miles)

Hospitals

• Va Medical Center (1.2 miles)
• Grandview Medical Center (1.9 miles)
• Miami Valley Hospital (2.1 miles)
• Premier Health Partners (2.2 miles)
• Miami Valley Hospital Inpatient Rehab Unit (2.5 miles)
• Miami Valley Hospital Surgery Floor (2.5 miles)
• Dayton Children's (3.7 miles)

Restaurants

• McDonald's (1.3 miles)
• McDonald's (2 miles)
• Table 33 (2 miles)
• Grist (2.1 miles)
• Bar Granada (2.2 miles)
• Uno Chicago Grill (2.2 miles)
• McDonald's (2.3 miles)

Places of Worship

• Grace United Methodist (1.6 miles)
• Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church (2.9 miles)

Pharmacies

• Khn Pharmacy (1.9 miles)
• Walgreens (2.3 miles)
• Walgreens (3.3 miles)
• Rite Aid (4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (4.1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (4.7 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (4.8 miles)

Parks

• RiverScape MetroPark (2.4 miles)
• Kettering Field (2.7 miles)
• Deweese Park (3.4 miles)
• Hills & Dales MetroPark (3.5 miles)
• Lincoln Park (5.6 miles)

Cafes

• Winans Chocolates + Co (2.5 miles)
• Press (2.7 miles)
• Starbucks (2.8 miles)
• Starbucks (4.5 miles)
• Pettibone Coffee (5.8 miles)

Transportation

• Dayton Yellow Cab (2.7 miles)
• U-Haul Moving & Storage (3.2 miles)