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Fayetteville, NC · Fayetteville Metro, NC · Based on public reviews & parent communities

Finding the right childcare
in Fayetteville

Fayetteville was named in 1783 to honor the Marquis de Lafayette, making it the first place in North America named after the Revolutionary War hero. The city became a political powerhouse, serving as North Carolina's state capital at times and hosting the legislature's ratification of the U.S. Constitution in 1789. Today, Fayetteville is home to Fort Bragg, the largest Army installation in the country. Fayetteville's 7 reviewed childcare centers serve this North Carolina city of over 211,000 residents, each ranked without marketing influence. We scored each DCDEE-licensed childcare center across 11 real dimensions — safety, curriculum, arts & music, infant care, kindergarten readiness and more. Scores drawn from major public review platforms and parent communities — not center marketing.

7Centers reviewed
11Dimensions scored
1,000+Reviews analyzed
211,657City population
Sort by
🔍
Score key
9–10 exceptional
7–8 strong
4–6 average or below

1
Licensed Childcare Center
5-Star DCDEENAEYC AccreditedSubsidy AcceptedEst. 1985
8.5/ 10
Safety
8
Curriculum
9
Art/Music
8
Infant care
8
K-ready
9
Teachers
9
Compassion
9
Mgmt
8
Culture
9
Class sizes
7
Extracurriculars
9
Bordeaux Creative School in Fayetteville's 28304 zip code holds both a Five-Star NC DCDEE license and NAEYC national accreditation — the gold standard in early childhood quality. In operation since 1985, it serves up to 140 children ages 6 weeks through pre-kindergarten, with classroom viewing windows that parents consistently praise.

Strengths

  • Holds both a Five-Star NC DCDEE license and NAEYC accreditation — one of the highest dual-credential combinations possible
  • Operating since 1985 with director holding a bachelor's in Birth to Kindergarten Education
  • Classroom viewing windows and monitoring cameras give parents real-time visibility
  • Accepts subsidized child care

Considerations

  • State inspection records from 2022-2024 note some findings, including improperly stored cleaning supplies and maintenance items to address; families may wish to review the facility's current inspection history.
  • Serves only ages 6 weeks through 5 years — no school-age or after-school programming
What parents say
“So much more than just a daycare. They are phenomenal.”
“We absolutely adore all the teachers and they have treated our boys so good over the years.”
2
★ 4.9 (67 Google)    ·  Licensed Childcare Center
5-Star DCDEEMilitary DiscountInfant–School AgeTransportation
8.2/ 10
Safety
8
Curriculum
8
Art/Music
7
Infant care
8
K-ready
8
Teachers
9
Compassion
10
Mgmt
8
Culture
9
Class sizes
7
Extracurriculars
8
Heavenly Haven Academy in north Fayetteville carries a 4.9-star Google rating from 67 verified parent reviews alongside its Five-Star DCDEE license. Serving children from infancy through age 12, the center offers transportation, hot meals, and military discounts. Director Ms. Blue receives repeated individual praise for hands-on leadership.

Strengths

  • Exceptional 4.9/5 Google rating across 67 parent reviews — one of the highest in the Fayetteville area
  • Five-Star DCDEE license; director Ms. Blue individually praised by multiple parents
  • Full-service center: infant through school-age with before/after school, transportation, and hot meals
  • Military discount program; serves Fort Liberty/28311 corridor families
  • Parents consistently praise cleanliness, welcoming atmosphere, and staff attentiveness

Considerations

  • 2024 inspections cited screen time management issues and inadequate activity balance for school-age children
  • Staff documentation gaps noted in 2024 (medical reports, emergency forms, training certifications)
What parents say
“I love the staff and the director Ms. Blue is awesome. I would highly recommend this center.”
3
Licensed Childcare Center
5-Star DCDEENC Pre-K AvailableUniversity-BasedCACFP Participant
8.1/ 10
Safety
8
Curriculum
9
Art/Music
7
Infant care
8
K-ready
9
Teachers
9
Compassion
8
Mgmt
7
Culture
9
Class sizes
7
Extracurriculars
8
Fayetteville State University's Early Childhood Learning Center is a Five-Star DCDEE-licensed center that has operated since 1970 as both a childcare facility and training ground for early childhood education majors. It serves infants through pre-kindergarteners and offers the state-funded NC Pre-K program free to eligible families. Recent inspection findings point to documentation gaps, but its university affiliation and five-star rating reflect strong institutional quality.

Strengths

  • University-based teaching facility — instructors are credentialed early childhood education majors under faculty supervision
  • Established in 1970; decades of continuous operation signals institutional stability
  • NC Pre-Kindergarten program available at no cost to income-eligible 4-year-olds
  • Serves infants through pre-kindergarteners with CACFP meals participation

Considerations

  • Verify the operation’s current licensing standing in the state's official child care licensing record
  • Serves only ages 6 weeks through 5 years — no before/after school program for older children
  • Limited public Google/Yelp review presence
What parents say
“He quickly advanced and moved to the toddler classroom. He learned his colors, numbers and how to follow very detailed directions.”
4
Licensed Childcare Center
5-Star DCDEENAEYC AccreditedMilitary SubsidyPeanut-FreeInfant–School Age
7.6/ 10
Safety
8
Curriculum
9
Art/Music
7
Infant care
8
K-ready
8
Teachers
8
Compassion
7
Mgmt
6
Culture
8
Class sizes
7
Extracurriculars
8
Wonder Years Child Development Center on Cliffdale Road in Fayetteville (28314) holds both the NC Five-Star DCDEE license and NAEYC national accreditation. With capacity for 139 children ages 0-12, it serves military families and DSS-assisted households with infant care, preschool, Pre-K, and after-school programs. While parents praise curriculum quality, some administrative and billing concerns have been noted.

Strengths

  • NC DCDEE Five-Star license and NAEYC national accreditation
  • Large capacity of 139 children; serves ages 0-12
  • Accepts military subsidies and DSS assistance
  • Peanut-free facility; Spanish-speaking staff available
  • Mostly compliant inspection record with no violations in 2024

Considerations

  • Administrative complaints reported: billing disputes and office communication issues
  • Some parents report Pre-K staff unresponsive to children with speech and hearing concerns
  • January 2023 inspection cited minor safety issues
  • Charges apply on school closure days
5
Licensed Childcare Center
5-Star DCDEEHead StartFederally FundedFree for Income-Eligible
7.5/ 10
Safety
7
Curriculum
8
Art/Music
7
Infant care
7
K-ready
8
Teachers
8
Compassion
8
Mgmt
7
Culture
8
Class sizes
7
Extracurriculars
7
Blanton Road Head Start is a federally funded, Five-Star DCDEE-licensed center in Fayetteville's 28303 zip code operated by Action Pathways, Cumberland County's major anti-poverty nonprofit. It delivers the full Head Start model — early education, health screenings, nutrition, and family services — free to income-eligible families with children birth through age 5.

Strengths

  • Five-Star DCDEE-licensed center operated under federally funded Head Start
  • Provides comprehensive child development services including health screenings, family support, and meals at no cost to income-eligible families
  • Operated by Action Pathways, a longstanding Cumberland County human services nonprofit

Considerations

  • Serves only children ages 0-5; no before/after school or school-age programs
  • December 2023 inspection found cracked and broken floor tiles in hallways
  • April 2023 violation for delayed fire inspection documentation submission
  • No current parent reviews available on major review platforms
6
 ★ 4 (13 Yelp)  ·  Licensed Childcare Center
7.0/ 10
Safety
8
Curriculum
8
Art/Music
7
Infant care
8
K-ready
8
Teachers
8
Compassion
8
Mgmt
7
Culture
8
Class sizes
6
Extracurriculars
1
Snyder Child Care Center is a 5-Star, church-affiliated childcare program in Fayetteville's Haymount-adjacent 28305 zip, operating out of Snyder Memorial Baptist Church with capacity for 276 children. Yelp reviewers highlight warm, highly trained teachers and meaningful developmental outcomes, and the center's voluntary 5-Star license reflects the highest staff education standards in the NC system. Administrative hiccups in 2023 and a minority of dissatisfied parent experiences temper an otherwise strong profile.

Strengths

  • 5-Star NC DCDEE license — highest rating tier — earned through voluntary excellence in staff education and program standards
  • Yelp 4.0 rating across 13 reviews; parents praise teachers as 'incredible' and 'compassionate with genuine love for all children'
  • Ministry of Snyder Memorial Baptist Church with a Christ-centered early learning philosophy
  • Largest capacity in the hub (276), serving ages 0-12 including Pre-K and school-age
  • Participates in subsidized childcare program, broadening access

Considerations

  • August 2023 inspection cited 7 violations including screen-time exposure for infants, expired CPR certifications, and plastic bag accessibility
  • One reviewer noted staff appeared dismissive and that management was unresponsive
  • Large enrollment may affect individualized attention
What parents say
“"This is the most incredible group of teachers and staff" — Yelp reviewer”
“"All of the members of the staff are compassionate and have a genuine love for all of the children there" — Yelp reviewer”
7
Burns Child Care & Preschool Center
Licensed Childcare Center
6.7/ 10
Safety
7
Curriculum
7
Art/Music
6
Infant care
7
K-ready
7
Teachers
7
Compassion
7
Mgmt
6
Culture
7
Class sizes
6
Extracurriculars
0
Burns Child Care & Preschool Center is a 4-Star licensed facility in south Fayetteville's 28306 corridor serving up to 153 children from infancy through age 12. Its large capacity and above-minimum star rating make it a significant community resource, though a 2024 inspection flagged administrative compliance gaps around staff documentation and medication storage. No public reviews are available to assess parent experience.

Strengths

  • 4-Star NC DCDEE license reflecting above-baseline quality standards
  • Large capacity of 153 serves infants through school-age (0-12)
  • Multiple clean inspections on record prior to 2024

Considerations

  • February 2024 inspection cited unlocked medication storage, missing fire inspection docs, and incomplete staff medical records
  • No public parent reviews on record
No centers match this filter.

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