Happy Hearts Academy

Happy Hearts Academy is a Preschool in Ashtabula, OH. The public educational facility provides individualized education for students ages 5 to 22 who have developmental disabilities. Services include a specially designed curriculum, life‑skills and self‑care training, community‑skills development, and therapeutic supports such as physical, occupational, speech, vision‑mobility, and nursing services. Certified, licensed teachers deliver instruction across several satellite classrooms throughout Ashtabula County, serving families across the county’s public school districts. The academy holds a 3.30 rating from community reviews.

Founded in 1955 as the first school for children with disabilities in the county, Happy Hearts Academy began in the basement of the Methodist Church on Elm Street with five students. After moving through several locations, a dedicated campus was built in 1968, and in 2019 the school relocated to its current address on West 13th Street, where it now serves 104 students. The program emphasizes a nurturing environment and a collaborative approach with the Ashtabula County Educational Service Center and local school districts, continuing a legacy of 66 years of uninterrupted service.

The academy sits on West 13th Street, a short walk from the Ashtabula Arts Center (about 0.3 mi) and Brooker Park (approximately 0.4 mi). It is also near West 9th Street, the main road, roughly 0.6 mi away, and within a mile of Kent State University of Ashtabula, the Health & Science Building, and the Tech Building.

Happy Hearts Academy’s long history and comprehensive, individualized programs make it a distinctive preschool option for families seeking specialized education for children with developmental disabilities in Ashtabula.