Original Research by School Decision on First Step Preschool
First Step Preschool is a public preschool program in Parma, Ohio, serving only four-year-old children. The school enrolls a modest number of students, with a student body that is majority white, with substantial representation from Hispanic families and smaller shares of multiracial, Black, and Asian students. No data on free or reduced-price lunch eligibility, special education enrollment, or English learner status are available; these figures are not regularly reported at the preschool level in Ohio.
Because First Step serves only pre-K, state academic assessments and graduation rates do not apply. Preschool does not fall into measured accountability frameworks in the same way elementary through high school do. A parent considering this program should view it primarily as an early childhood setting, not through the lens of later academic performance metrics.
Parma itself is a large inner-ring suburb of Cleveland, roughly three miles from the airport, with strong ethnic heritage and a mix of mid-century housing, commercial corridors, and some light industrial activity. The Polish Village and Ukrainian Village commercial districts along Ridge Road and State Road give the city its most distinctive character. The housing market here sits below both state and national medians, making it relatively affordable; median home values are modest and rents are similarly accessible. The market has moderate supply and demand, with homes typically on the market for a relatively short time. This is an established suburban neighborhood, not a growth area, and the population has been gradually declining from its post-WWII peak, though Parma remains the largest suburb in Ohio.
The broader Parma City School District, which serves Parma along with Parma Heights and Seven Hills, is navigating significant structural changes. The district closed three schools at the end of the 2022-23 school year, including Parma Senior High, consolidating operations to a six-three-two model (six elementary schools, three middle schools, two high schools). This permanent reshaping affects where children are assigned and which buildings remain open. More pressingly, the district has not passed a new operating levy since several years ago, with multiple recent failures in 2025 and 2026. District officials have publicly warned of cuts to elective courses, potential fees for extracurricular activities, and possible staff reductions, with a financial forecast suggesting the district could exhaust reserves by the end of the 2028-29 school year. For families enrolling in preschool now, this financial uncertainty is worth understanding as the child moves into elementary grades, as it may affect program breadth and staffing.
First Step's location is in residential Parma, accessible by car on the suburban grid. The city offers parks, trails at West Creek Reservation, a public library branch, and bus transit through the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority, though Parma is primarily auto-oriented.
See more original research from School Decision →