Best Daycares in Charlotte, NC — 2026 Rankings

We ranked 50 daycares and childcare centers in Charlotte based on licensing, accreditation, parent reviews, and childcare quality.

Top Daycares in Charlotte

  1. #1 — St Stephen Preschool Score: 86%

    St Stephen Preschool is a childcare center in Charlotte, NC. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: http://www.ststephenumc.net/.

    Programs: Preschool, Home service, Day care preschool. View full profile →

  2. #2 — Mallard Creek Presbyterian Church Preschool Score: 86%

    Mallard Creek Presbyterian Church Preschool is a childcare center in Charlotte, NC. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: http://www.mallardcreekchurch.org/.

    Programs: Preschool, Home service, Day care preschool. View full profile →

  3. #3 — Children of the World Learning Center Score: 86%

    Children of the World Learning Center is a childcare center in Charlotte, NC. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: https://linktr.ee/cotwlc.

    Programs: Preschool, Home service, Day care preschool. View full profile →

  4. #4 — The Goddard School of Charlotte (Mallard Creek) Score: 86%

    The Goddard School of Charlotte (Mallard Creek) is a childcare center in Charlotte, NC. Programs include Preschool, child care and day care, school, education. Website:…

    Programs: Preschool, Child care and day care, School, Education. View full profile →

  5. #5 — LeafSpring School at McAlpine Score: 86%

    LeafSpring School at McAlpine is a childcare center in Charlotte, NC. Programs include Preschool, home service, private school. Website: https://mcalpine.leafspringschool.com/.

    Programs: Preschool, Home service, Private school. View full profile →

  6. #6 — Gateway Academy Child Development Centers, Ballantyne Score: 86%

    Gateway Academy Child Development Centers, Ballantyne is a childcare center in Charlotte, NC. Programs include Preschool, school, education. Website: http://www.gatewayacademy.com/schools/charlotte-nc-ballantyne-preschool/.

    Programs: Preschool, School, Education. View full profile →

  7. #7 — The Goddard School Score: 86%

    The Goddard School is a childcare center in Charlotte, NC. Programs include Preschool, private school, day care preschool. Website: https://www.goddardschool.com/schools/nc/charlotte/charlotte-ballantyne.

    Programs: Preschool, Private school, Day care preschool. View full profile →

  8. #8 — Charlotte Montessori School Score: 86%

    Charlotte Montessori School is a childcare center in Charlotte, NC. Programs include Preschool, private school, home service. Website: http://www.charlottemontessori.com/.

    Programs: Preschool, Private school, Home service. View full profile →

  9. #9 — The Early Learning Center Preschool Score: 86%

    The Early Learning Center Preschool is a childcare center in Charlotte, NC. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: http://www.earlylearningcenternc.com.

    Programs: Preschool, Home service, Day care preschool. View full profile →

  10. #10 — Childcare Network Score: 86%

    Childcare Network is a childcare center in Charlotte, NC. Programs include Preschool, child care and day care, school, education. Website: https://schools.childcarenetwork.com/nc/charlotte/651-woodlawn-road.

    Programs: Preschool, Child care and day care, School, Education. View full profile →

  11. #11 — St. Andrew's United Methodist Church Preschool Score: 86%

    St. Andrew's United Methodist Church Preschool is a childcare center in Charlotte, NC. Programs include Preschool, elementary school, school. Website: http://www.standrewsumc.com/.

    Programs: Preschool, Elementary school, School. View full profile →

  12. #12 — Little Angels Academy Score: 84%

    Little Angels Academy is a childcare center in Charlotte, NC. Programs include Preschool, home service, elementary school. Website: http://www.LAApreschool.com/.

    Programs: Preschool, Home service, Elementary school. View full profile →

  13. #13 — COS Kids Child Development Campus Score: 83%

    Based in Matthews, NC, C.O.S.Kids is a 5 STAR, Christian-based non-profit child care organization serving a full diversity of families and with a special outreach to single parent families.

    Programs: Summer Camp. View full profile →

  14. #14 — Bright Kids Learning Academy Score: 77%

    Bright Kids Learning Academy is a childcare center in Charlotte, NC. Programs include Preschool, day care preschool, home service. Website: https://www.brightkidslearningacademy.com/.

    Programs: Preschool, Day care preschool, Home service. View full profile →

  15. #15 — Hickory Grove Early Education Center Score: 77%

    Childcare center listed from OpenStreetMap contribution node/11664376791. Type: center-based. No program signal in source. Verified fields: name, phone, website, address.

    Programs: General Childcare. View full profile →

  16. #16 — Pleasant Grove UMC Preschool Score: 74%

    Pleasant Grove UMC Preschool is a childcare center in Charlotte, NC. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: http://pleasantgrovecdc.com/.

    Programs: Preschool, Home service, Day care preschool. View full profile →

  17. #17 — CreativePlay Preschool Score: 71%

    CreativePlay Preschool is a childcare center in Charlotte, NC. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: http://Www.creativeplaycharlotte.com/.

    Programs: Preschool, Home service, Day care preschool. View full profile →

  18. #18 — The Early Foundations Academy Score: 71%

    The Early Foundations Academy is a childcare center in Charlotte, NC. Programs include Preschool, day care preschool, home service. Website: http://www.theearlyfoundations.com/.

    Programs: Preschool, Day care preschool, Home service. View full profile →

  19. #19 — Quail Hollow Presbyterian School Score: 71%

    Quail Hollow Presbyterian School is a childcare center in Charlotte, NC. Programs include Preschool, home service, elementary school. Website: http://quailhollowpreschool.org/.

    Programs: Preschool, Home service, Elementary school. View full profile →

  20. #20 — Evangelistic Learning Center Score: 71%

    Evangelistic Learning Center is a childcare center in Charlotte, NC. Programs include Preschool, day care preschool, religious organization. Website: http://www.evangelisticlearningcenter.giving.officelive.com/.

    Programs: Preschool, Day care preschool, Religious organization. View full profile →

  21. #21 — Chesterbrook Academy Preschool Score: 69%

    Chesterbrook Academy Preschool is a childcare center in Charlotte, NC. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: https://www.chesterbrookacademy.com/preschools/nc/charlotte/ballantyne/.

    Programs: Preschool, Home service, Day care preschool. View full profile →

  22. #22 — La Escuelita Weekday School at Holy Comforter Score: 69%

    La Escuelita Weekday School at Holy Comforter is a childcare center in Charlotte, NC. Programs include Preschool, day care preschool, home service. Website: http://www.laesws.org/.

    Programs: Preschool, Day care preschool, Home service. View full profile →

  23. #23 — The Children's Circle Score: 69%

    The Children's Circle is a childcare center in Charlotte, NC. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: http://thechildrenscircle.org/.

    Programs: Preschool, Home service, Day care preschool. View full profile →

  24. #24 — Providence Preparatory School Score: 69%

    Providence Preparatory School is a childcare center in Charlotte, NC. Programs include Preschool, private school, elementary school. Website: http://www.providenceprepschool.com/.

    Programs: Preschool, Private school, Elementary school. View full profile →

  25. #25 — Charlotte Jewish Preschool Score: 69%

    Charlotte Jewish Preschool is a childcare center in Charlotte, NC. Programs include Preschool, religious school, school. Website: http://www.charlottejewishpreschool.org/.

    Programs: Preschool, Religious school, School. View full profile →

  26. #26 — Messiah Preschool Charlotte Score: 69%

    Messiah Preschool Charlotte is a childcare center in Charlotte, NC. Programs include Preschool, day care preschool. Website: http://www.messiah-nc.org/.

    Programs: Preschool, Day care preschool. View full profile →

  27. #27 — The Mothership Preschool Score: 69%

    The Mothership Preschool is a childcare center in Charlotte, NC. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: http://www.themothershipclt.com/.

    Programs: Preschool, Home service, Day care preschool. View full profile →

  28. #28 — Piedmont Progressive Preschool Score: 69%

    Piedmont Progressive Preschool is a childcare center in Charlotte, NC. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: https://www.piedmontprogressive.org/.

    Programs: Preschool, Home service, Day care preschool. View full profile →

  29. #29 — Northside Academy for Early Learning Score: 69%

    Northside Academy for Early Learning is a childcare center in Charlotte, NC. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: http://www.northsideael.com/.

    Programs: Preschool, Home service, Day care preschool. View full profile →

  30. #30 — Cadence Academy Preschool Score: 69%

    Cadence Academy Preschool is a childcare center in Charlotte, NC. Programs include Preschool, home service, day care preschool. Website: https://www.cadence-education.com/locations/nc/charlotte/712?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=local_listing&utm_campaign=local_seo.

    Programs: Preschool, Home service, Day care preschool. View full profile →

How We Rank Daycares & Childcare Centers

Our Guide Score percentage combines Google rating (35%), review volume (20%), web and contact presence (20%), profile completeness (15%), accreditation such as NAEYC (5%), press recognition (3%), and years of operation (2%), then normalizes across captured positive categories. Read our full methodology →

Browse Charlotte daycares by program

Frequently asked questions

Who is the #1 daycare in Charlotte?
St Stephen Preschool is currently the #1 ranked daycare in Charlotte based on our Guide Score, which evaluates parent reviews, licensing status, accreditation, and quality signals. See the full ranked list above.
How are daycares ranked in Charlotte?
Our Guide Score percentage combines weighted evidence from Google rating, review volume, web and contact presence, profile completeness, accreditation, press recognition, and years of operation, then normalizes across categories with captured positive evidence. There is no paid placement.
How much does daycare cost in Charlotte?
Childcare costs in Charlotte vary by program type and age group. Full-time infant care commonly ranges from $800–$2,500/month; preschool programs run $600–$1,800/month. Each center's profile page lists contact information for current rates.