CareCompass
At a Glance
Trust Score
Based on comprehensive analysis of reviews, safety records, and operations.
About Open Door Central
Inclusive Child-Led Care in Clarksville
Open Door Central has served the Austin community since 1975, offering a nurturing environment where children of all abilities and backgrounds learn together. Their curriculum integrates elements of Reggio-Emilia and Creative Curriculum, emphasizing that social-emotional development is the bedrock of future success. The program is specifically recognized for its commitment to inclusion and educational equity, providing a space where children of different races, income levels, and abilities flourish side-by-side. The facility features dedicated outdoor play spaces where children engage in daily free play and nature-based exploration. Teachers focus on child-led interests, allowing students to develop confidence while celebrating the uniqueness of their peers. With a remarkable history of staff stability—over half of the teachers have been with the school for five years or more—the program provides a consistent, loving atmosphere that parents describe as a second home.
What Parents Say
5 reviews from parents
This place was a gift to me and my family. If you want a safe, loving and child led experience for your kids (and to make great friends with other parents), send them to Open Door. ❤️
Definitely recommend this school to families who are struggling to find an all inclusive school
We were accepted into Open Door after having a really tough experience at a Montessori school. My son was extremely unhappy and often had anxiety about going to school. Behavior problems started at some point in that year and became routine. I quickly realized the Montessori environment with 27 kids in one class was not a good fit for him so I started frantically hunting for something better. We were thrilled to get the last spot in the Pre-K class at Open Door. School has gone from a major source of anxiety and frustration to a place of joy and happiness. The pre-k class is super small, only 10 kiddos, which was a big part of the reason we selected Open Door. Our teacher, Sam Breman, is extremely patient, hands on and has worked especially hard with the kids on their social emotional development. He also coaches most of the class in Soccer at the YMCA, total bonus! But not only Sam, all of the teachers and staff on campus are very involved with the children, my son knows them all by name and has made many special bonds. He has really blossomed in this nurturing environment and has gained so much confidence. And most importantly, he is having FUN in pre-school, as it should be. Open Door has been a big warm hug to our family and we know our son will be prepped and ready for Kindergarten next year. In fact, we love Open Door so have transferred to Mathews Elementary (right down the street from Open Door Central campus) so that our son can attend the Open Door after school care program next year when he goes to Kinder!
Web Report
Aggregated insights from public records & parent discussions
Safety Record
No safety concerns or major incidents were found in news articles or legal records. State licensing records indicate a consistent history of routine inspections, with a recent food establishment inspection in April 2025 resulting in a perfect score of 100. The facility is NAEYC-accredited, which requires adherence to rigorous national safety and quality standards.
Parent Reputation
Open Door Central maintains an exceptionally high reputation among parents, who describe it on forums like Reddit and Care.com as a 'wonderful' and 'nurturing' community. Sentiment is overwhelmingly positive, with common themes praising the school's commitment to social-emotional development and its inclusive environment for children of all abilities. The organization is well-regarded as a local nonprofit, holding a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator.
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