Safety7
Curriculum8
Art/Music7
Infant care8
K-ready8
Teachers8
Compassion9
Mgmt7
Culture8
Class sizes6
Extracurriculars7
Knightdale KinderCare at 200 Forest Drive is a NC DCDEE 5-star licensed, NAC-accredited center serving children ages 6 weeks through 12 years with a capacity of 144. The center offers a full developmental program from infant care through prekindergarten and before/after-school care, augmented by enrichment classes in music, cooking, and phonics. Parent feedback highlights a compassionate staff that goes above and beyond, including strong support for children with special needs, making it a top institutional childcare option in the Knightdale/eastern Raleigh corridor.
Strengths
- NC DCDEE 5-star licensed facility — the highest state rating — verified via childcarecenter.us (license #9255230)
- Accredited by the National Accreditation Commission (NAC), one of few centers in the area with this designation
- Serves infants through school-age (6 weeks–12 years) with dedicated programs at every developmental stage
- Parents praise caring, attentive staff, especially for children with special needs
- Daily communication and teacher responsiveness consistently highlighted in parent reviews
- Enrichment classes (Cooking Academy, Music Explorers, Phonics Adventures) included in programming
Considerations
- November 2023 inspection cited eight violations including medication storage and SIDS training gaps — though cleared by February 2024 unannounced inspection
- Large capacity (144 children) can feel less personal compared to smaller boutique centers
- Google and Yelp review counts are limited, making aggregate rating data difficult to verify independently
What parents say
“I love this center and so do all my children. I know my children are safe and happy here when I can't be with them.”
“The staff is amazing, especially Mrs. Brenda — she is truly wonderful all the time. I was initially concerned about care for my special needs son, not anymore. They take GREAT care of him.”
“The infant teachers show such special attention to each of the babies and our daughter has already shown such positive growth in the two months she has been attending. The constant feedback we receive from the teachers and the daily notes sent home makes us feel well informed and a part of her day.”
Safety5
Curriculum6
Art/Music5
Infant care7
K-ready6
Teachers6
Compassion8
Mgmt5
Culture7
Class sizes6
Extracurriculars5
Touched By An Angel Open Arms Child Care Center is a NC DCDEE 4-star licensed facility at 1005 Big Oak Court in Knightdale, serving children from infancy through age 12 with a capacity of 115. Operated by a family-run ownership team, the center participates in NC's subsidized care program and is known among long-term families for a warm, nurturing culture — several parents have enrolled children since birth and remained for years. Inspection violations in 2023–2024 involving documentation and physical safety items warrant review, but the center's compassionate reputation and accessible extended hours make it a meaningful option for eastern Wake County families.
Strengths
- NC DCDEE 4-star licensed center — one of the higher-rated independent childcare centers in Knightdale (license #92003384, verified via childcarecenter.us)
- Serves a wide age range from infants through age 12, including full-day, before/after school, and track-out care
- Enrolled in NC Subsidized Child Care Program, making it accessible to income-eligible families
- Parent reviews consistently praise warm, caring staff who treat children like family; multiple families have enrolled children from birth with years of continued loyalty
- Extended hours (6:30 AM – 6:30 PM) accommodate working parents with early or late schedules
- Google rating of 3.8 across 33 reviews reflects a genuine community of satisfied long-term families
Considerations
- State inspection records from 2023-2024 note items that were flagged for correction, including playground safety documentation, mulch depth, chemical storage, HVAC access, and staff health forms; families may wish to review the current licensing record for the facility's compliance status.
- Some reviewers on childcarecenter.us reported concerns about staff professionalism and staffing levels on certain occasions.
- No standalone website beyond a Facebook presence, limiting transparency into curriculum details and enrollment processes
- Google rating of 3.8 is good but below the 4.0+ threshold seen at top-tier Knightdale competitors like KinderCare
- Yelp data is not established, limiting multi-platform review validation
What parents say
“My son is 8 years old going on 9 and my daughter is 5 going on 6, both have been there since birth. The warm and love that comes from that place is amazing. I would give more than 5 stars if I could.”
“My daughter has been attending since she was 3 months old and is now 2 years old. The staff is very friendly, knowledgeable and caring — they truly care about my baby and my baby loves them. I get daily messages and pictures which gives me peace of mind.”
“Touch by an Angel Daycare is one of the best Daycare my children have ever went to. The staff are loving and warming and genuinely care about learning. My kids have been there since birth.”
Safety5
Curriculum6
Art/Music6
Infant care7
K-ready6
Teachers5
Compassion6
Mgmt4
Culture5
Class sizes5
Extracurriculars6
Widewaters Learning Center is a NC DCDEE 5-star licensed childcare center at 9565 Village Park Drive in Knightdale, serving children from 6 weeks through age 12 with a capacity of 178. Established in 2009, it is one of the longest-operating and highest state-rated licensed centers in eastern Wake County, offering full-day, part-time, before/after school, track-out, and summer programming. Despite its strong credential, recent inspection violations and mixed management reviews warrant careful due diligence from prospective families.
Strengths
- NC DCDEE 5-star licensed — the highest state rating — confirmed via childcarecenter.us (license #92002617)
- Long-established center operating since May 2009 with 17+ years serving Knightdale families
- Large capacity of 178 children serving ages 6 weeks through 12 years, including full before/after school, track-out, and summer programs
- Enrolled in NC Subsidized Child Care Program, increasing access for income-eligible families
- BBB A+ rating with no consumer complaints on record
- Conveniently located in the Village Park area of Knightdale (east Wake County), with hours from 6 AM to 6 PM
Considerations
- State inspection records from 2023-2024 note several compliance findings, including an infant reportedly receiving another child's breast milk, expired staff First Aid/CPR certifications, incomplete sleep-monitoring documentation, and a staff-handling concern; parents may wish to review the facility's licensing history directly.
- Employee reviews on Indeed cite high staff turnover attributed to management, low pay, and inadequate support — which can affect classroom consistency
- Parent reviews are mixed; negative feedback highlights management being dismissive and prioritizing revenue over child welfare
- Public Google and Yelp review counts are not yet established, limiting independent consumer sentiment data
- Large 178-child enrollment may feel impersonal compared to smaller boutique programs in eastern Wake County
What parents say
“My daughter has been at Widewaters for just over 3 years and we have been very happy. Her pediatrician told us she is pacing a year ahead developmentally and is already prepared for Kindergarten.”
“My granddaughter attended Widewaters from age 2 until 5 and loved every minute of it. The teachers are wonderful and there is a good balance between learning and play.”
No centers match this filter.