Horizon Lorain Community Center awarded 5-Star rating in Step Up to Quality – Morning

On Feb 8, 2022

Horizon Lorain Community Center, located within the Constellation-Lorain Community School, received a 5-Star Quality Rating under the state’s Quality Child Care rating system known as “Step Up To Quality” under the direction of Heather LaMore, Center director for Horizon’s Lorain Community Center.

A 5-Star rating is the highest rating under the rating program.

Horizon now has six Lorain County centers that are at a level 5-Star Step Up to Quality with the rest above a level 4 rating, according to a news release from Horizon.

The base level for high quality in Ohio is three stars, the release said.

Horizon formed a collaboration with Constellation-Lorain Community School in 2019 to offer a preschool along with its current after-school program.

Horizon’s main goal for its preschool program is to provide 20 slots for children enrolling and provide them with a high-quality kindergarten readiness program, the release said.

Horizon Education Centers has had a nine-year partnership with Constellation Schools through the 21st Century Learning Grant from the state, in which Horizon operates an after-school program at Lorain Community School.

Studies have shown that children who attend after-school programs benefit from: increased academic efforts; fewer emotional and behavioral problems; increased physical activity; and help create healthy learning habits, according to the release.

According to Horizon’s Executive Director Dave Smith,

“Horizon’s strives to prove high-quality care and education for children 6 weeks of age to 12 years old,” said Dave Smith, executive director of Horizon. “We are proud to be one of Lorain’s top-rated programs.

“All 12 of Horizon Education Centers are rated high quality under Ohio’s Step Up To Quality Rating System.”