Safety8
Curriculum8
Art/Music7
Infant care8
K-ready8
Teachers8
Compassion8
Mgmt7
Culture8
Class sizes7
Extracurriculars8
First Class Preparatory School is a DCDEE Five Star-licensed private childcare and preschool serving Mooresville's 28115 zip code, offering full-day and part-day programs for ages 6 weeks through 12 years. Led by director Shaquana Glenn under the tagline 'Fly First Class,' the center distinguishes itself with enrichment programming in STEM, Spanish, and sign language alongside robust security infrastructure. Parent feedback highlights a welcoming, diverse staff and a school environment that consistently exceeds childcare expectations.
Strengths
- Holds NC's highest Five Star Center License rating
- Full-spectrum programming from infants (6 weeks) through school-age aftercare and summer camp
- STEM, Spanish, and sign language woven into daily curriculum
- Cameras in every classroom with keypad-secured entry for parent peace of mind
- Offers drop-in and half-day options — rare flexibility among Mooresville centers
Considerations
- Subsidized-program enrollment can mean waitlists during peak enrollment periods
- Google review count not publicly confirmed; online presence is thinner than franchise competitors
What parents say
“First Class has went above and beyond my expectations of childcare.”
“Great school. Always improving. Stellar support from parents and staff. STEM building currently under construction, as well as an auditorium.”
Safety7.5
Curriculum8
Art/Music0
Infant care8
K-ready7.5
Teachers8.5
Compassion8.5
Mgmt5.5
Culture8
Class sizes0
Extracurriculars0
Strengths
Considerations
What parents say
“Mrs. Taz & Ms. Alyssa are the best! They truly care about every child in their care. I love seeing the daily photos and updates they provide.”
“My infant goes to Goddard and it is absolutely wonderful! The teachers are so sweet and caring—I know they want the best for my child.”
“I had to switch my 4 year old from another daycare and I wish I would have done it sooner! My son loves the Mooresville Goddard school!”
Safety7.5
Curriculum8.5
Art/Music0
Infant care7
K-ready7.5
Teachers8
Compassion8.5
Mgmt0
Culture7.5
Class sizes0
Extracurriculars7
Strengths
Considerations
What parents say
“I like the pace of the curriculum that kiddie academy offers, I feel like some child care curriculums don't really help prepare kids going into kindergarten. Kiddie academy does a really good job preparing my child for the next educational level of learning.”
“The relationships and rapport being built with families and staff.”
“Facilities are new and clean, the Tadpole app gives good information about the learning the kids have done for each day.”
Safety0
Curriculum0
Art/Music0
Infant care0
K-ready0
Teachers7.5
Compassion8
Mgmt0
Culture7.5
Class sizes0
Extracurriculars0
Strengths
Considerations
What parents say
“My girls have been attending this center for over two years. The staff is very caring and friendly. The center is always clean. They truly care about the children who go there. My girls are always ready to go to school and do not want to leave in the evenings.”
“I worked at the daycare for three years and I absolutely loved it. I felt like the children were the number one priority at the facility and the staff were more like family than employees.”
“I work as a lead teacher in the three year old room. I love the relaxed environment with the open style daycare.”
Safety7
Curriculum8
Art/Music7
Infant care8
K-ready8
Teachers8
Compassion8
Mgmt7
Culture7
Class sizes7
Extracurriculars7
The Learning Experience Mooresville is a well-established, 5-star NC DCDEE-licensed center serving children 6 weeks to 10 years at 123 Legacy Village Blvd with a capacity of 164. Its proprietary L.E.A.P. academic curriculum draws consistent praise from long-term families and earned recognition as a Duke University employee-recommended partner. Minor licensing violations noted in 2023 inspections and mixed employee satisfaction temper an otherwise strong community reputation.
Strengths
- Holds the maximum 5-star NC DCDEE license rating
- Proprietary L.E.A.P. curriculum with strong academic outcomes — parents report kids reading and counting to 100 before kindergarten
- Large 164-child capacity with broad age range (6 weeks to 10 years)
- Strong parent loyalty — multiple families enrolled for 4+ years
- Partnerships with five local elementary schools including Langtree Charter
- Secure entrances, background-checked staff, daily parent app with photos
- Partner center listed by Duke University employee benefits program
Considerations
- Recent DCDEE unannounced inspections (Dec 2023, Jun 2023) found violations including missing activity plan postings and incomplete medication authorization forms
- June 2023 inspection noted insufficient materials for younger children and wall/ceiling maintenance issues
- Employee reviews on Indeed indicate mixed experiences — concerns about pay and inconsistent management across locations
- Google Maps rating not confirmed (Niche aggregate 4.33/5 is lower than top-tier peers)
- No direct Yelp rating accessible to verify
What parents say
“We LOVE this place! Great teachers who really care about our kids. Front office staff is so friendly and attentive to our needs. Building is fun, bright and clean. Would highly recommend sending your kid here!”
“Our daughter has been going to TLE for the past 4 years. We have met so many amazing teachers along the way. Shout out to Ms. Tiffany, Ms. Shirley, and Ms. Jemini! They have helped ease our worries and have really nurtured our child and helped her grow.”
“My grandson, Michael Hartman, loves the infant room at your Mooresville location. He gets excellent care from Trimeka and looks forward to going to TLE every day.”
Safety7
Curriculum8
Art/Music7
Infant care7
K-ready7
Teachers8
Compassion8
Mgmt7
Culture8
Class sizes6
Extracurriculars7
Learning Jungle Mooresville, formerly Smart Kids Child Development Center at Lake Norman, is a DCDEE-licensed NC 5-Star-rated private childcare and preschool operating at 203 Singleton Road in Mooresville's 28117 zip code. The center delivers a play-based, Reggio-inspired curriculum through the High Reach Learning program for children ages 6 weeks through 12 years, with programs spanning infant, toddler, preschool, pre-K, and school-age care plus a summer camp. Parents consistently praise the warm, attentive teachers and the center's strong communication tools, making it a well-regarded full-service childcare option on the Lake Norman corridor.
Strengths
- NC 5-Star rated DCDEE-licensed center with long operational history (formerly Smart Kids CDC since 2003)
- Play-based, Reggio-inspired curriculum using High Reach Learning framework fosters social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development
- Full age range served: infants (6 weeks) through school age (12 years) under one roof
- Parent communication app provides real-time daily updates, photos, and learning activity logs
- Offers after-school transportation to Lakeshore, Woodland Heights, and Lake Norman schools
- Conveniently located off I-77 with large age-specific outdoor play areas
- 100% recommendation rate on Facebook among parents who reviewed
Considerations
- Exact licensed capacity not publicly listed; prospective families should verify current enrollment availability
- Numeric Google and Yelp ratings not widely aggregated on third-party review platforms
- Center has undergone a brand transition (Smart Kids to Learning Jungle) which may cause some confusion in online searches
What parents say
“I adore everyone here, every single educator here treats my children with so much love and care.”
“My son started about 6 months ago and has grown significantly — he's become more verbal and is learning his letters, numbers, and animal names. He comes home talking about all his friends and his teachers.”
“She's been going for a few months and I absolutely love this school. The staff greet her and she runs up to them like they're her family.”
Safety7
Curriculum7
Art/Music6
Infant care7
K-ready7
Teachers7
Compassion8
Mgmt6
Culture7
Class sizes7
Extracurriculars6
Cline Learning Center of Mooresville is a NC DCDEE 5-star licensed center at 149 River Park Rd serving children birth through age 12 with capacity for 100 children. Founded in 2008, the center accepts subsidized care, provides transportation, and parents highlight attentive staff who work with children on individual challenges. Recent state inspections flagged minor compliance issues, and online reviews are sparse, so prospective families should visit in person and review current DCDEE inspection records.
Strengths
- NC DCDEE 5-star licensed center — highest state quality rating
- Accepts subsidized child care, making it accessible to income-diverse families
- Teachers work individually with children who have special needs or developmental challenges
- Parents report open-door policy with multiple daily visit allowances
- Offers transportation and full-day programming 6:30 AM–6:30 PM
- Founded 2008; established local operator with multiple NC locations
Considerations
- Care.com shows only 2.7/5 across 3 reviews — limited review sample
- Recent DCDEE inspections (2024–2025) cited violations including missing activity plans, toy quantity, and playground surfacing
- Online listings are largely unclaimed, suggesting limited digital engagement
- Employee reviews on Indeed note past management concerns (new management reportedly in place)
What parents say
“I love Cline Learning Center! I originally chose this school based on its convenient location. When my daughter started last winter, she was 18 months old and it was our first experience with daycare. I had a lot of concerns, but the teaching staff and the director were phenomenal. They worked with me to ensure that my child and I were both comfortable.”
“My son has attended Cline Learning Center this year. It has been a wonderful experience. He has grown and learned so much. He has a few challenges to overcome and they have been awesome working with his needs.”
“They are helping me raise my daughter and doing a fantastic job!”
Safety5
Curriculum7
Art/Music6
Infant care7
K-ready7
Teachers7
Compassion6
Mgmt4
Culture6
Class sizes5
Extracurriculars6
Primrose School of Lake Norman is a large franchise preschool at 173 Raceway Dr in Mooresville (zip 28117) serving infants through school-age with a 168-child capacity. Despite parents praising caring teachers and the Balanced Learning curriculum, the center carries a DCDEE 1-star state license rating with multiple recent inspection findings, which significantly limits its ranking potential. No Childcare Network location was found in zips 28115, 28117, or 28677; this center is the strongest fallback option in the Lake Norman hub area.
Strengths
- Large capacity (168) with infant through kindergarten coverage
- Balanced Learning curriculum with Cognia and SEA accreditation
- 96% of Pre-K students met ASQ problem-solving benchmarks in 2024-2025
- Procare app for daily parent communication and photos
- Parents describe teachers as outstanding, creative, compassionate, and caring
- Located near I-77 with convenient Lake Norman area access
Considerations
- DCDEE 1-star state license rating — lowest tier on NC's 1-5 scale
- State inspection records from 2023-2024 note items flagged during routine visits, including outdoor-time scheduling, food portions, cot spacing, activity and feeding documentation, securing of AC units, and attendance records; prospective families may wish to review the facility's current licensing record directly.
- One negative review alleges unauthorized billing of $305 after disenrollment
- One parent reported child showed significant reluctance and distress about attending
- Google rating not independently verified via live Maps access
What parents say
“I was immediately comfortable when I entered Primrose and knew I had found the perfect place. Teachers are outstanding — creative, compassionate, and caring.”
“Our daughter has been enrolled since age two. We love Primrose for the wonderful specialized daily care provided — the teaching curriculum, socialization, and exposure have been excellent.”
“She fought me every morning to get dressed and begged me to stay home... She clung to me when I dropped her off in the mornings. Our daughter isn't enrolled there anymore and they continue to charge us for services they are no longer providing.”
Safety4.5
Curriculum7
Art/Music0
Infant care6.5
K-ready6
Teachers6.5
Compassion7
Mgmt4
Culture5.5
Class sizes0
Extracurriculars0
Strengths
Considerations
What parents say
“We were apprehensive at first about sending our babies to daycare but after working with Tutor Time in Mooresville, I couldn't imagine them being anywhere else.”
“The teachers and staff are loving and kind and emulate behaviors I want to see in my own child.”
“The level of understanding and kindness the teachers and staff have toward our situation is amazing.”
Safety5
Curriculum6.5
Art/Music0
Infant care5
K-ready6
Teachers6
Compassion6.5
Mgmt4
Culture5.5
Class sizes0
Extracurriculars0
Strengths
Considerations
What parents say
“The staff are great and the new principal is awesome too, super friendly and very welcoming!”
“Administration is rude. There are better options elsewhere.”
“Promises not made! Management is not supportive of staff at all! As a former employee I also had my daughter enrolled in the program the principal was very rude to myself and her father at different occasions but nice to other families! Was told i was a lead but not ever got to do anything in the classroom...”
Safety4
Curriculum6
Art/Music0
Infant care6
K-ready0
Teachers0
Compassion0
Mgmt0
Culture0
Class sizes0
Extracurriculars0
Strengths
Considerations
Safety3
Curriculum6
Art/Music0
Infant care0
K-ready0
Teachers6
Compassion4
Mgmt3
Culture5
Class sizes0
Extracurriculars0
Strengths
Considerations
What parents say
“We really like stepping stones. It is one of the best in Mooresville. Play-based curriculum. Clean facilities. Educated teachers. Great, healthy lunches and snacks served.”
“Overall, clean facility and great teachers. However, I really question some administrative decisions.”
Safety2.5
Curriculum6
Art/Music0
Infant care6
K-ready0
Teachers4.5
Compassion3
Mgmt2.5
Culture0
Class sizes0
Extracurriculars0
Strengths
Considerations
What parents say
“My wife and I have tried 1 other daycare that happened to be a corporate daycare. They corporate daycare couldn't care less about our children. At J-Bear they have teachers that actually care...”
“J- Bear employees make use of corporal punishment against children, as well as verbal and mental discipline. They are deprived of things such as water when they ask. When it is hot outside, the...”
“WOULD NEVER LEAVE CHILDREN HERE AGAIN!!! For a 4 star daycare the staffs behavior is quite baffling. My child came home multiple times with bruises and telling me she was being hit. Of course the...”
14
KinderCare-Mooresville
0.0/ 10
Safety0
Curriculum0
Art/Music0
Infant care0
K-ready0
Teachers0
Compassion0
Mgmt0
Culture0
Class sizes0
Extracurriculars0
Strengths
Considerations
No centers match this filter.