How do I choose the right daycare in Charlotte?

When choosing a daycare in Charlotte, consider visiting facilities in person and checking: 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

What types of daycare are available in Charlotte?

Charlotte offers several types of childcare facilities: Child Daycare & Preschools — 278 facilities Headstart Programs — 5 facilities Church Daycare — 28 facilities Before or After School Daycare — 82 facilities Each type serves different needs — center-based facilities typically offer structured programs, while head start programs are federally funded for low-income families.

82 Before or After School Daycare in Charlotte, North Carolina

Q: What is the average cost of daycare in North Carolina?

Daycare costs in North Carolina typically range from $200 to $400 per week for full-time care, depending on the child's age, facility type, and location within the state. Infant care tends to be more expensive due to lower staff-to-child ratio requirements. Contact individual facilities in Charlotte for current pricing.

Browse all 82 before or after school daycare in Charlotte, North Carolina. Compare options and find the right childcare for your family.

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.

1
Brighter Minds Academy 2
4.8 score
5(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
2
Castle'S Day Care Academy
4.72 score
4.9(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
3
Myers Park Presbyterian Weekday School
4.71 score
4.9(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
4
Ballancrest Academy At Blakeney
4.67 score
5(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
5
Young At Heart Learning Center
4.67 score
5(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
6
Little Hedgepeth Child Development Center
4.64 score
5(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
7
Kids R Us Daycare II
4.64 score
5(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
8
Leafspring School
4.64 score
4.8(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
9
The Village At Leafspring School
4.64 score
4.8(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
10
Gateway Academy Child Development Center Eastfield
4.64 score
4.8(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

Top Rated

Highest rated daycares in Charlotte based on parent reviews

Newell Baptist Child Development Center

5(6)

9115 Newell Baptist Church Rd, Charlotte, NC

The reviews do not pertain to the daycare center but rather to the affiliated church. No actual daycare reviews were found in the provided content.

None applicable - reviews reference church services and facilitiesnot childcare services

Barringer Academic Center Asep

4.7(11)

1546 Walton Road, Charlotte, NC

Barringer Academic Center ASEP receives consistently positive feedback with all 5-star ratings. Parents and former students praise the school for its supportive teachers, welcoming environment, and positive impact on students' academic and social development.

Supportive and caring teachersfriendly student communitypositive school environment

Stratford Richardson Ymca

4.5(20)

1946 West Blvd, Charlotte, NC

Stratford Richardson YMCA in Charlotte receives consistently high praise from members across multiple programs. Parents particularly highlight the quality of childcare services, allowing them to work out with confidence, along with excellent staff, clean facilities, and diverse amenities. The facility is described as a welcoming community hub with a strong sense of belonging.

High-quality childcare stafffree childcare with membershipclean facilities

Collinswood Elementary Asep

4.3(20)

4000 Applegate Rd, Charlotte, NC

Parents consistently praise Collinswood Elementary ASEP as an excellent school with a strong bilingual/international curriculum. Multiple reviewers highlight the quality of teachers, staff, and the cultural learning opportunities available. Former students and current parents express high satisfaction and confidence in recommending the school.

Bilingual education (Spanish)international curriculumcultural diversity education

Charlotte Bilingual Preschool

4.3(16)

6300 Highland Avenue, Charlotte, NC

Charlotte Bilingual Preschool receives consistently high praise from parents, with all reviews rating the school 5 stars. Parents highlight the caring and patient staff, quality bilingual education program, and positive developmental impact on their children.

Caring and kind staffpatient teacherschildren develop confidence and come out of comfort zones

University Park Elementary Asep

4.1(18)

2400 Hildebrand Street, Charlotte, NC

University Park Elementary ASEP receives overwhelmingly positive feedback from parents and guardians. Reviews consistently praise the school's caring teaching environment, family-centered approach, and quality educational experiences. Parents highlight the welcoming facilities, modern technology, extracurricular activities, and strong staff.

caring teacher-student relationshipsfamily-centered approachextracurricular activities

Map

Daycare types in Charlotte

Child Daycare & Preschools 278 Headstart Programs 5 Church Daycare 28 Before or After School Daycare 82

Browse by type in Charlotte

🎨 Preschools 16 🎒 After School Programs 15 🕊️ Baptist Daycare 9 ✝️ Christian Daycare 6 🌱 Montessori 5

Before or After School Daycare in Charlotte, North Carolina

There are 82 before or after school daycare in Charlotte, North Carolina, making up 21% 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.

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 Before or After School Daycare in Charlotte

Showing 82 results