Smart From the Start Armitage Llc
4135 W ARMITAGE AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60639Childery Rating: 4/5
Data last updated ·
Quality Indicators
See Methodology →- Overall QualityCombines daily care quality (interactions, learning, environment) with structural features like staff-to-child ratios and teacher qualifications.4 / 5
- Process QualityThe quality of daily care — caregiver-child interactions, learning activities, and the emotional climate. Drawn from the state QRIS rating, accreditations, and Head Start CLASS observations.3 / 5
- Structural QualityMeasurable features like staff-to-child ratios, group sizes, license status, and teacher qualifications. Provider-level data when available; otherwise the state regulatory baseline.5 / 5
Why this rating
This daycare earned 4 out of 5 stars overall. Process quality reflects an ExceleRate Illinois rating of Silver. Structural quality reflects a license in good standing. The structural rating also includes Illinois's licensing baseline — what every licensed daycare in the state must meet. Illinois caps infant ratios at 1:4, toddler ratios at 1:5, and preschool ratios at 1:10. Lead teachers must hold a Child Development Associate (CDA). Teachers must complete 15 hours of annual training.
Quality Recognitions & Accreditations
- State Quality Rating
- ExceleRate Illinois Silver (2 out of Max 4) Learn more →
- Accreditations
- National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)Not Accredited
- National Accreditation Commission (NAC)Not Accredited
- National Early Childhood Program Accreditation (NECPA)Not Accredited
- National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC)Not Accredited
Facility Info
- Facility type
- Child Care Center
- Age groups served
- Infants, Toddlers, Preschool, School-Age
- Licensed capacity
- 111
- Teacher-child ratios & group sizesState Minimum Displayed
Age Max ratio Max group Infants 1:4 12 Toddlers 1:5 15 Preschool 1:10 20
Teacher Credentials
- Lead teacher credentialState Minimum Displayed
- Child Development Associate (CDA)
Inspection History
23 Inspection Visits Since 2012 · 115 Findings
Most recent: Mar 31, 2025⤓ Download Latest Report (PDF)
11 Critical101 Important3 Administrative
Across 23 inspections since 2012, the issues cited most often were Building & Premises Safety (30), Children's Records & Files (21), and Curriculum & Developmental Programming (16). Of 115 total findings, 11 were critical.
See All 23 Inspection Visits
Mar 31, 20256 Findings5 Important1 Administrative
- Enrollment and Discharge Procedures407.250(i)(1)(i)
- Health Requirements for Children407.310(c)
- Health Requirements for Children407.310(h)
- Medications407.360(c)
- Medications407.360(d)
- Organization and Administration407.70(m)
Mar 28, 20258 Findings2 Critical6 Important
- General Requirements for Personnel407.100(c)(5)
- General Requirements for Personnel407.100(f)
- Personnel Records407.120(a)(4)
- Health Requirements for Children407.310(a)(6)
- Napping and Sleeping407.350(f)
- Physical Plant/Indoor Space407.370(e)(11)
- Physical Plant/Indoor Space407.370(e)(3)
- Equipment and Materials407.380(g)
Oct 29, 20243 Findings3 Important
- Nutrition and Meal Service407.330(h)
- Nutrition and Meal Service407.330(i)
- Nutrition and Meal Service407.330(q)
May 10, 202316 Findings2 Critical13 Important1 Administrative
- Background Checks for Personnel407.110
- Staffing Structure407.90(a)
- Personnel Records407.120(a)
- Qualifications for Early Childhood Assistants and School-age Assistants407.150(a)
- Grouping and Staffing407.190(a)
- Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers407.210(f)(19)
- Napping and Sleeping407.350(a)
- Napping and Sleeping407.350(f)
- Physical Plant/Indoor Space407.370(d)(2)(b)
- Physical Plant/Indoor Space407.370(d)(3)
- Physical Plant/Indoor Space407.370(e)(1)(c)
- Physical Plant/Indoor Space407.370(e)(11)
- Physical Plant/Indoor Space407.370(e)(3)
- Physical Plant/Indoor Space407.370(e)(7)
- Physical Plant/Indoor Space407.370(n)
- Organization and Administration407.70(i)
Jul 21, 202219 Findings2 Critical17 Important
- General Requirements for Personnel407.100
- Staffing Structure407.90(a)
- Personnel Records407.120
- Qualifications for Early Childhood Teachers and School-age Workers407.140
- Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers407.210(c)(5)
- Health Requirements for Children407.310(b)
- Health Requirements for Children407.310(f)
- Hand Washing407.320(a)
- Nutrition and Meal Service407.330(l)(1)
- Napping and Sleeping407.350(c)
- Napping and Sleeping407.350(j)
- Physical Plant/Indoor Space407.370(d)(2)(b)
- Physical Plant/Indoor Space407.370(d)(3)
- Physical Plant/Indoor Space407.370(e)(3)
- Physical Plant/Indoor Space407.370(e)(6)
- Physical Plant/Indoor Space407.370(e)(7)
- Physical Plant/Indoor Space407.370(r)
- Equipment and Materials407.380(g)
- Equipment and Materials407.380(h)
Apr 11, 20222 Findings1 Critical1 Important
- General Requirements for Personnel407.100(f)
- Personnel Records407.120(a)(3)
Sep 27, 20213 Findings1 Critical2 Important
- Staffing Structure407.90(a)(3)
- Program Requirements for All Ages407.200(r)
- Guidance and Discipline407.270(c)(6)(a)
Apr 30, 20212 Findings2 Critical
- Staffing Structure407.90(a)(3)
- Staffing Structure407.90(f)(1)
Jun 24, 20191 Finding1 Important
- Guidance and Discipline407.270(c)(6)
Mar 28, 20194 Findings4 Important
- Personnel Records407.120(a)
- Enrollment and Discharge Procedures407.250(i)(1)
- Enrollment and Discharge Procedures407.250(i)(2)
- Physical Plant/Indoor Space407.370(e)(3)
Apr 11, 20181 Finding1 Important
- Grouping and Staffing407.190(a)
Jun 22, 20171 Finding1 Important
- Guidance and Discipline407.270(c)(6)
Jun 5, 20171 Finding1 Important
- Guidance and Discipline407.270(c)(6)
Apr 10, 20179 Findings9 Important
- Qualifications for Early Childhood Teachers and School-age Workers407.140(h)
- Enrollment and Discharge Procedures407.250(c)(14)
- Enrollment and Discharge Procedures407.250(i)(1)
- Enrollment and Discharge Procedures407.250(i)(2)
- Enrollment and Discharge Procedures407.250(i)(4)(a)
- Health Requirements for Children407.310(a)(5)
- Health Requirements for Children407.310(a)(6)
- Equipment and Materials407.380(j)(4)
- Equipment and Materials407.380(j)(5)
Mar 3, 20171 Finding1 Important
- Physical Plant/Indoor Space407.370(m)
Apr 22, 20166 Findings6 Important
- Diapering and Toileting Procedures407.340(h)
- Physical Plant/Indoor Space407.370(e)(11)
- Physical Plant/Indoor Space407.370(e)(7)
- Physical Plant/Indoor Space407.370(g)
- Physical Plant/Indoor Space407.370(o)(1)
- Equipment and Materials407.380(e)
Mar 31, 20153 Findings1 Critical2 Important
- General Requirements for Personnel407.100(f)
- Health Requirements for Children407.310(d)
- Physical Plant/Indoor Space407.370(f)(2)
Dec 5, 20147 Findings7 Important
- Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers407.210(f)(8)
- Animals407.300(f)
- Diapering and Toileting Procedures407.340(a)(5)(f)
- Diapering and Toileting Procedures407.340(a)(5)(g)
- Napping and Sleeping407.350(e)
- Napping and Sleeping407.350(f)
- Physical Plant/Indoor Space407.370(o)(2)
May 30, 20146 Findings6 Important
- Enrollment and Discharge Procedures407.250(i)(1)(a)
- Enrollment and Discharge Procedures407.250(i)(1)(b)
- Enrollment and Discharge Procedures407.250(i)(1)(d)
- Enrollment and Discharge Procedures407.250(i)(1)(g)
- Enrollment and Discharge Procedures407.250(i)(1)(h)
- Physical Plant/Indoor Space407.370(e)
Apr 17, 20137 Findings6 Important1 Administrative
- Personnel Records407.120(a)(6)
- Grouping and Staffing407.190(a)
- Grouping and Staffing407.190(e)(1)
- Nutrition and Meal Service407.330(e)
- Nutrition and Meal Service407.330(g)
- Nutrition and Meal Service407.330(p)
- Provisions Pertaining to the License407.60(g)
Jul 24, 20121 Finding1 Important
- Nutrition and Meal Service407.330(k)
Jun 29, 20124 Findings4 Important
- Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers407.210(b)
- Health Requirements for Children407.310(a)
- Napping and Sleeping407.350(e)
- Napping and Sleeping407.350(f)
May 25, 20124 Findings4 Important
- Grouping and Staffing407.190(a)
- Nutrition and Meal Service407.330(b)
- Nutrition and Meal Service407.330(g)
- Nutrition and Meal Service407.330(k)(4)
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