About Balanced Family Academy of Clintonville · Columbus
Balanced Family Academy of Clintonville is a wholistic childcare and preschool serving the Clintonville neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio. Operated by franchise owners Courtney and Rob Lewis since January 2020, the school is part of the broader Balanced Family Academy brand that has served Columbus families since 2014. Located in the historic Walhalla House (3100 N High Street) with an additional California Cottage site at 25 East California Avenue, it offers year-round programs for infants through school-age children, including preschool, pre-K, and summer camp. The campus is licensed by the Ohio Department of Children and Youth (license #2190020809, initial license 12/23/2019) and is known for organic meals prepared by an in-house chef, an additional teacher above state staffing minimums, and a play-based 'Full Circle Curriculum.'
Balanced Family Academy of Clintonville (BFAC) opened its doors in January 2020 as one of the first franchise locations of Balanced Family Academy, a Columbus-area childcare brand that has been serving Central Ohio families since 2014. The Clintonville campus is owned and operated by Courtney and Rob Lewis, who left corporate careers to purchase the franchise after first experiencing BFA as parents. The school occupies the historic Walhalla House at 3100 North High Street — the former Southwick-Good Funeral Home — and adds a second building, the California Cottage at 25 East California Avenue, giving families on High Street easy access to I-315 and downtown Columbus. BFAC markets itself as a 'wholistic' preschool, blending an in-house chef (organic, locally sourced meals) with above-state-ratio staffing, diapers and wipes provided, in-house laundry, and extracurricular enrichment such as yoga, nature programming ('Balanced by Nature'), water days, and Jump Bunch. The school's 'Full Circle Curriculum' emphasizes physical well-being, community and cultural connection, emotional intelligence, confidence in life skills, language and literacy, early math, science exploration, and creative expression, all delivered through a play-based approach with weekly 'Daily Brain Builders.' A separate Kindergarten Pathway Program supports older pre-K students, and a Director of Behavioral Support leads social-emotional and behavioral strategy work. Parents also receive monthly progress reports, weekly activity goals, and daily photos through a family app. Reviews from families consistently praise the staff, communication, healthy meals, and warm community feel, and the campus is now enrolling for the 2026-2027 school year.
- In business
- Clintonville franchise opened January 2020 (BFAC); Balanced Family Academy brand founded 2014 in Columbus.
- Owner
- Owners: Courtney Lewis and Rob Lewis (Clintonville franchisees). On-site administrator per Ohio licensing: Kathryn Prince.
- Serves
- Clintonville and north-central Columbus, Ohio; families commuting via I-315 and downtown Columbus.
- Rating
- 5.0 (20 Google reviews, per thedaycarebook.com summary)
About Balanced Family Academy of Clintonville
Balanced Family Academy of Clintonville (BFAC) is the Clintonville franchise of Balanced Family Academy, a Columbus, Ohio early-childhood brand that has been serving families since 2014. The Clintonville campus opened in January 2020 under owners Courtney and Rob Lewis, who left corporate careers to become franchisees after first experiencing BFA as parents. The school occupies the historic Walhalla House on North High Street, with an additional building, the California Cottage, on East California Avenue, giving easy access to I-315 and downtown. BFAC describes its community as a place 'where children discover the joy of learning, the power of kindness, and the beauty of our diverse world,' and is currently enrolling for the 2026–2027 school year.
- Opened January 2020 by Courtney and Rob Lewis
- Part of Balanced Family Academy brand (est. 2014 in Columbus)
- Historic Walhalla House (former Southwick-Good Funeral Home) at 3100 N High St
- Second site: California Cottage, 25 E California Ave
Locations
The Clintonville campus operates from two buildings a short distance apart in the Clintonville neighborhood of Columbus, giving families a true neighborhood preschool experience with quick highway access.
- Walhalla House — 3100 North High Street, Clintonville, OH 43202
- California Cottage — 25 East California Ave., Columbus, OH 43202
- Easy access to I-315 and downtown Columbus
Programs Offered
BFAC serves children from six weeks through school age, with both full-time and part-time (1–5 days per week) scheduling options. Programming continues year-round with a dedicated summer camp for school-age children.
- Infant care (6 weeks and up)
- Toddler care
- Preschool
- Pre-Kindergarten
- School-Age program
- Summer Camp
Full Circle Curriculum
BFAC's 'Full Circle Curriculum' is built around the idea that early childhood requires nurturing the whole child — physically, socially, emotionally, and intellectually. Lessons are delivered through a play-based approach using open-ended materials that encourage creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking, while weekly 'Daily Brain Builders' provide a consistent rhythm across age groups.
- Physical Well-being
- Community and Cultural Connection
- Emotional Intelligence
- Confidence in life skills
- Language and Literacy
- Early Math concepts
- Science exploration
- Creative Expression
Kindergarten Pathways
The Kindergarten Pathway Program is a branch of the curriculum designed for older prekindergarten students and their families as they prepare for the transition to Kindergarten. A dedicated Pathways Director acts as a bridge between teachers, parents, and administrators to set developmentally appropriate expectations and support families through behavioral and academic concerns in mixed-age classrooms.
Balanced by Nature Program
Balanced by Nature is BFAC's specialized nature program, led by 'Mr. Jared,' that connects children to the outdoors through exploration, journaling, and recommended nature reading for families. The program emphasizes stewardship of creation and outdoor learning as a complement to classroom time.
Whole-Family Amenities
BFAC provides many of the everyday supplies families need so mornings run smoothly, and offers extras that support parents as well as children.
- Organic meals and snacks prepared by an in-house chef, with locally sourced ingredients
- Diapers and wipes provided
- In-house laundry
- Optional weekly prepared meal pickup for the whole family (small additional cost)
- Parent yoga classes
- Extracurricular enrichment (yoga, water days, Jump Bunch)
- Above-state-ratio staffing: an additional teacher in every classroom and two extra teachers in young infant rooms
Communication with Parents
The school emphasizes ongoing, transparent communication with families, including monthly progress reports, weekly activity goals, and daily photos of activities sent through a family app so parents can follow their child's day in real time.
Meet the Owners — Courtney & Rob Lewis
Courtney and Rob Lewis are the proud owners of Balanced Family Academy of Clintonville. They joined the BFA community first as parents when the original location opened in 2014, then grew to love the brand so much they both left corporate careers to become one of the first BFA franchisees. They opened the Clintonville doors in January 2020 and say their favorite part has been the community they have built with the families and staff of BFAC.
Clintonville Leadership Team
The Clintonville campus is supported by a leadership team spanning operations, training, family experience, and classroom excellence.
- Kathryn Prince — Chief Operating Officer
- Whitney LeBarron — Director of Center Excellence
- Jess Kauffman — Assistant Director of Training + Engagement
- Sophia Craig — Assistant Center Support Manager
- Kayla Hays — Director of Customer Experience
Family Reviews
Family reviews consistently highlight the staff, communication, healthy meals, and welcoming atmosphere of BFAC. Aggregate Google-style summaries report a 5-star rating across 20 parent reviews.
- "We are so grateful to be part of the BFAC Community! Our 3 year old and 1 year old absolutely adore the teachers and staff! The communication from both the admin and teachers has been exceptional."
- "Their dedication to provide quality care while prioritizing learning and development activities with a safe environment will keep us here."
- "BFA Clintonville has been fantastic. The staff are great, very well supported, trained and educated."
- "BFAC has been a safe and nurturing environment for my kids, with a focus on community, education, and a balanced lifestyle."
- "It is a really special place and community. From the first day our daughter started daycare, I knew she was in the best hands."
Licensing & Operations
Balanced Family Academy of Clintonville is a licensed Ohio child care center (Program #2190020809), first licensed 12/23/2019, and is administered by Kathryn Prince. The program meets all state licensing requirements administered by the Ohio Department of Children and Youth. Families can verify current license status and compliance history at childcaresearch.ohio.gov.
- Program Number: 2190020809
- Initial License Date: 12/23/2019
- Program Type: Licensed Child Care Center
- Administrator: Kathryn Prince
- Step Up to Quality rating: Not Rated (meets state requirements)
Contact & Hours
Families can reach the Clintonville campus by phone, email, or through the website to inquire about enrollment, tours, and waitlist placement.
- Phone: (614) 756-7565
- Fax: (614) 675-9979
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: balancedfamilyacademy.com/clintonville
- Facebook: facebook.com/bfaclintonville
- Hours: Monday–Friday, 6:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.