Best Headstart Programs in Charlotte, NC
Compare 5 headstart programs in Charlotte. Average rating: 4.25/5 stars. See top 10 ranked daycares, compare by type, and find the right childcare for your family.
Charlotte, North Carolina at a glance
- Programs
- 5
- Avg rating
- 4.25/5
- Parent reviews
- 2,734
- Top rated (4.5+)
- 92
Charlotte has 5 licensed headstart programs with 2,734 parent reviews averaging 4.25/5.92 are top-rated with 4.5+ stars — 44% of rated programs, well above average.The highest-rated options cluster around 28211 (avg 5 stars), while 28277 has the largest selection (26 programs).Start with our top-10 ranked list below or filter by philosophy.
Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in Charlotte
Ranked using a weighted score that combines Google rating with the number of parent reviews — daycares with more reviews rank higher than those with a high rating but few reviews. Last updated: March 2026.
- 1Brighter Minds Academy 24.8 score5(20)
407 Norris Avenue, Charlotte, NC · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children
Brighter Minds Academy 2 receives unanimous 5-star reviews from parents who praise the caring, family-oriented environment and strong staff leadership. Parents report their children are safe, happy, thriving, and well-prepared academically. Multiple reviewers describe the center as a supportive village that extends care beyond typical daycare.
caring and loving staffstrong communication with parentssafe environmentacademic preparation for elementary school - 2Castle'S Day Care Academy4.72 score4.9(20)
6521 Barrington Drive, Charlotte, NC · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children
Castle's Day Care Academy receives unanimous 5-star ratings from parents who praise the facility for exceptional academic instruction, child development, and caring staff leadership under Ms. Cynthia. Parents report significant learning gains in reading, writing, math, and social-emotional skills, with children showing confidence and enthusiasm for attending.
Strong academic curriculumdaily learning in core subjectseffective communication with parentscaring and attentive staff - 3Myers Park Presbyterian Weekday School4.71 score4.9(19)
2501 Oxford Place, Charlotte, NC · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children
Myers Park Presbyterian Weekday School is a center-based daycare in Charlotte, NC with a 4.9/5 Google rating. Reviews consistently praise the beautiful historic church facility, welcoming atmosphere, and strong faith-based community. Parents appreciate the child-friendly approach, quality staff, and spiritual nourishment provided to families.
Beautiful historic church buildingwelcoming and warm stafffaith-based community valueschild-friendly services - 4Ballancrest Academy At Blakeney4.67 score5(10)
8165 Ardrey Kell Road, Charlotte, NC · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children
Ballancrest Academy receives perfect 5/5 ratings from all parents who praise the caring, professional staff, small class sizes, and family-like atmosphere. Parents consistently report their children are well-prepared for kindergarten and feel confident in their child's safety and development. The center is noted for its nutritious meals, engaging curriculum, and strong teacher retention.
Small class sizescaring and professional stafflow teacher turnoverfamily-l - 5Young At Heart Learning Center4.67 score5(10)
7001 Wallace Rd,Suite 400, Charlotte, NC · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children
Young at Heart Learning Center receives perfect 5-star ratings from all reviewers. Parents consistently praise the director Mrs. Vickie and her team for creating a loving, safe, and educational environment where children thrive and feel at home.
Caring and passionate staffchildren feel safe and lovededucational curriculumclean facility - 6Little Hedgepeth Child Development Center4.64 score5(9)
3215 Rozzelles Ferry Road, Charlotte, NC · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children
Little Hedgepeth Child Development Center receives consistently positive feedback from parents who praise the caring, attentive staff and family-like atmosphere. Children reportedly transition well, learn new skills, and parents appreciate the cleanliness and organized activities including field trips. Multiple families have enrolled their children for years, indicating strong satisfaction and retention.
caring and attentive stafffamily-like environmentclean facilityeducational activities - 7Kids R Us Daycare II4.64 score5(9)
2208 Lasalle Street, Charlotte, NC · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children
Parents consistently praise Kids R Us Daycare II as a caring, professional facility where children thrive and feel welcome. Staff treat children like family members, maintain a clean and organized environment, and provide engaging educational activities. Multiple parents highlight their children's enthusiasm for attending and strong development in social skills and learning.
Caring and nurturing staffclean and well-organized facilitystrong safety and sanitation practiceseducational activities - 8Leafspring School4.64 score4.8(20)
9829 Providence Road West, Charlotte, NC · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children
LeafSpring School in Charlotte receives consistently excellent feedback from parents, with all reviews rating it 5/5 stars. Parents praise the dedicated, caring staff, individualized learning approach, strong academic preparation, and welcoming community atmosphere. Children reportedly thrive academically, socially, and emotionally during their time at the facility.
Experienced and nurturing teacherswelcoming communitystructured learning activities with individual tailoringart and creativity focus - 9The Village At Leafspring School4.64 score4.8(20)
9829 Providence Road West, Charlotte, NC · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children
Parents consistently praise LeafSpring at Ballantyne for its dedicated, caring staff and nurturing environment where children thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. The facility is noted for its well-structured curriculum, thoughtful design, strong communication with families, and extra offerings like an in-house chef and special events. Multiple parents report significant child development gains and feel confident in their children's kindergarten readiness.
Caring and attentive staffwelcoming communityindividualized learningstructured curriculum - 10Gateway Academy Child Development Center Eastfield4.64 score4.8(20)
12330 Eastfield Road, Charlotte, NC · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children
Parents consistently praise Gateway Academy (listed as Cadence Academy in reviews) for exceptional staff, strong leadership, and warm, nurturing care. The center is noted for quality nutrition with in-house chef preparation, daily communication via email and photos, and engaging activities. All reviewers rated the facility 5/5 stars and would recommend it to others.
Caring and loving staffexcellent directors (Ms. Gwendolyn and Ms. Symone)in-house meal preparation with fresh fruits and vegetablesdaily email updates with photos
Rating Distribution
Based on 209 daycares with Google ratings in Charlotte
What Parents Value Most
Top qualities mentioned across 2,734 reviews, analyzed by AI
Daycare Types Compared
Average ratings by facility type in Charlotte, based on parent reviews
Best Rated Neighborhoods
Charlotte zip codes ranked by average daycare rating
| Zip Code | Daycares | Avg. Rating | Top Rated | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28211 | 10 | 5 | 4 | |
| 28203 | 7 | 4.85 | 6 | |
| 28270 | 10 | 4.62 | 4 | |
| 28212 | 16 | 4.6 | 5 | |
| 28209 | 12 | 4.6 | 3 | |
| 28226 | 11 | 4.54 | 5 | |
| 28227 | 12 | 4.53 | 2 | |
| 28277 | 26 | 4.51 | 7 | |
| 28278 | 5 | 4.5 | 1 | |
| 28204 | 9 | 4.44 | 3 |
Facility Sizes
Capacity distribution of daycares in Charlotte (– children)
Small
up to 30 children
0
Medium
31–75 children
0
Large
76–150 children
0
Very Large
150+ children
0
Top Rated
Highest rated daycares in Charlotte based on parent reviews
Bethlehem Center Southside Head Start
2617 Baltimore Ave, Charlotte, NC
Parents consistently praise Bethlehem Center Southside Head Start, with all reviews giving 5-star ratings. They highlight the quality of staff, child development support, and their children's enthusiasm for attending. The facility is recommended for preschool, after-school, and summer programs.
St. John'S Head Start
300 Hawthorne Ln, Charlotte, NC
Thompson Child Development Center
1645 Clanton Road, Charlotte, NC
One parent describes the center as the best possible option, highlighting the staff's love, cleanliness, and a quiet, calm environment. Another reviewer praises the warm greeting upon arrival and the teachers' attentive care, noting they would choose this facility again. In contrast, a single negative review characterizes the staff as nasty and rude.
Bethlehem Center Head Start@ The Park At Oaklawn
1920 Stroud Park Court, Charlotte, NC
Center Of Hope Head Start
534 Spratt Street, Charlotte, NC
Center of Hope Head Start receives mixed reviews. While many praise the compassionate staff and community support services, including food, clothing, and donations, several residents report poor treatment, inadequate facilities, and lack of support for self-sufficiency.
Map
Daycare types in Charlotte
Browse by type in Charlotte
Headstart Programs in Charlotte, North Carolina
There are 5 headstart programs in Charlotte, North Carolina, making up 1% of the 393 total childcare facilities in the city. Below you'll find a complete directory to help you compare and choose the right daycare for your child.
Based on Google reviews, daycares in Charlotte have an average rating of 4.25 out of 5 across 209 rated facilities, with 44% scoring 4.5 stars or higher. Church Daycare facilities lead with an average of 4.42 stars. Our analysis covers 2,734 parent reviews. Parents in Charlotte most frequently praise daycares for safe environment, clean facility, and caring and attentive staff.
When choosing a daycare in Charlotte, consider visiting facilities in person, checking their licensing status, and asking about staff-to-child ratios, daily routines, and safety policies.
All Headstart Programs in Charlotte
Showing 5 results
- Address
- 300 Hawthorne Ln, Charlotte, NC
- Phone
- (704) 372-1341
- Address
- 1920 Stroud Park Court, Charlotte, NC
- Phone
- (704) 334-1974
Parents consistently praise Bethlehem Center Southside Head Start, with all reviews giving 5-star ratings. They highlight the quality of staff, child development support, and their children's enthusiasm for attending. The facility is recommended for preschool, after-school, and summer programs.
- Address
- 2617 Baltimore Ave, Charlotte, NC
- Phone
- (704) 371-6470
One parent describes the center as the best possible option, highlighting the staff's love, cleanliness, and a quiet, calm environment. Another reviewer praises the warm greeting upon arrival and the teachers' attentive care, noting they would choose this facility again. In contrast, a single negative review characterizes the staff as nasty and rude.
- Address
- 1645 Clanton Road, Charlotte, NC
- Phone
- (704) 333-5382
Center of Hope Head Start receives mixed reviews. While many praise the compassionate staff and community support services, including food, clothing, and donations, several residents report poor treatment, inadequate facilities, and lack of support for self-sufficiency.
- Address
- 534 Spratt Street, Charlotte, NC
- Phone
- (980) 259-3461
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Frequently asked questions
- Licensing status with North Carolina's regulatory agency
- Staff-to-child ratios (requirements vary by age group in North Carolina)
- Safety measures and cleanliness
- Daily routines and educational curriculum
- Parent reviews and ratings
- Location and hours that fit your schedule
- Child Daycare & Preschools — 278 facilities
- Headstart Programs — 5 facilities
- Church Daycare — 28 facilities
- Before or After School Daycare — 82 facilities