Safety8
Curriculum8
Art/Music7
Infant care8
K-ready7
Teachers8
Compassion9
Mgmt7
Culture8
Class sizes6
Extracurriculars8
The Growing Tree Child Care Center is a 5-star NC DCDEE licensed facility operated by Wilson Medical Center in Wilson, NC, serving infants through school-age children with a structured, play-based curriculum across dedicated age-group classrooms. The center is distinguished by its hospital affiliation — ensuring professional management and staff accountability — and a unique intergenerational program that connects children with elderly residents at a nearby nursing facility. High demand and a persistent waitlist reflect its standing as one of Wilson's most reputable early childhood programs.
Strengths
- NC 5-star licensed facility operated by Wilson Medical Center, providing hospital-grade oversight and professional accountability
- Structured programs for all ages from infants through school-age, with separate Tree House location for before/after school care
- Distinctive intergenerational program: weekly visits to Wilson Rehabilitation & Nursing Center foster empathy and community connection
- All staff trained in infant/child CPR, First Aid, and SIDS prevention; teachers meet high educational standards at hire
- Child-centered philosophy rooted in play-based discovery, learning centers, and developmentally appropriate pacing
Considerations
- Capacity of 150 means demand is high and a waiting list is common; families often must apply prenatally to secure a spot
- Inspection records from 2022-2024 note minor recurring violations including documentation gaps and playground maintenance items
- Limited publicly available parent review data, making community reputation harder to independently assess
- No subsidized child care program participation noted, which may limit affordability for some families
Safety6
Curriculum8
Art/Music7
Infant care7
K-ready8
Teachers7
Compassion7
Mgmt6
Culture7
Class sizes6
Extracurriculars7
Childcare Network #324 is a North Carolina 5-star licensed childcare center at 2305 Madison Drive in Wilson, serving children from infancy through age 12 with a licensed capacity of 228. Part of the regional Childcare Network chain, it offers a structured developmental curriculum, USDA-approved meals, before-and-after school care, and keyless entry security. While the center carries the state's highest star rating and serves a broad age range, recent inspections have flagged recurring operational violations, and public parent review presence is limited.
Strengths
- Holds North Carolina's top 5-star center license (license #98000205), the highest achievable state rating
- Large licensed capacity of 228 children serving a full age range from infants through school-age (0–12 years)
- Part of the established Childcare Network chain with structured, research-based curriculum covering reading, writing, math, science, arts, and motor development
- USDA-approved free meals and snacks included, reducing cost burden for families
- Keyless entry building access for enhanced child safety
- Offers flexible part-time care options in addition to full-time enrollment
- Before and after-school care program (Young Achievers Club) with transportation to local elementary schools
- Director Erika Wooten holds an Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education
Considerations
- State inspection records from 2025–2026 note some compliance items, including activity-plan documentation, formula labeling, kitchen cleanliness, covering of power strips in children's areas, and updates to emergency preparedness plans; parents may wish to review the current licensing record for the latest status.
- Some parent reviews report dissatisfaction with management responsiveness and organizational consistency following leadership changes
- No active public reviews on major platforms (Google Maps, Yelp, CareLuLu) making peer evaluation difficult
- Does not participate in subsidized child care voucher programs, limiting access for lower-income families
- Hours (7:00 AM–5:00 PM) may be limiting for families needing extended care
What parents say
“We have used Childcare Network for two years now. The staff and Manager have been very helpful. Our grandchildren are always happy about seeing their teachers and other children at daycare.”
Safety6
Curriculum7
Art/Music7
Infant care6
K-ready7
Teachers6
Compassion7
Mgmt5
Culture7
Class sizes7
Extracurriculars6
Kidstown Child Care And Learning Center is a long-established NC 4-star licensed childcare center at 301 Tarboro St SW in Wilson, serving children from infancy through age 12 with a licensed capacity of 125. The center participates in subsidized care and transportation programs and features a distinctive nature-based outdoor learning environment renovated through the Natural Learning Initiative, with gardens, a mud kitchen, and a sensory acoustic wall. While its most recent 2026 inspection was violation-free, prior years showed recurring compliance issues, and public parent review data remains sparse across major platforms.
Strengths
- Holds North Carolina's 4-star center license (license #98000025), well above the minimum state standard
- Established facility in continuous operation since at least 1998, providing community stability over nearly three decades
- Licensed capacity of 125 children serving a full age range from infants through school-age (0–12 years)
- Participates in the subsidized child care voucher program, supporting access for lower-income families
- Transportation services available, reducing logistical burden for working families
- Provides support services for children with special needs
- Features a renovated nature-based outdoor learning environment developed through the Natural Learning Initiative's Shape NC program, including a wheeled-toy pathway, fruit and vegetable gardens, mud kitchen, teepee, and acoustic sensory wall
- February 2026 unannounced inspection resulted in zero violations, the cleanest recent compliance record
- Wilson County Partnership for Children partner, linking the center to local early childhood support networks
Considerations
- Inspection history from 2023–2025 includes multiple violations: safe sleep policy non-compliance, improper infant bottle feeding setup, playground equipment with protruding bolts, hazardous cleaning materials accessible to children, and transport vehicle deficiencies
- No active public reviews on Google Maps, Yelp, or major childcare aggregators, making independent peer evaluation difficult
- Center website (kidstownlearning.com) was not loading at time of research, limiting prospective family access to program and enrollment information
- Employee reviews on Indeed average 3.2/5 with recurring criticisms of management organization and below-average compensation, which can affect staff retention and consistency
- BBB rating is listed as 'Not Rated' due to insufficient information — the organization is not BBB-accredited
What parents say
“The staff work as a team and are kind of like a huge family. They love the children and I applied and honestly love working there as well.”
“An administrator who cares not only for each child but also for every staff member.”
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