Holly Ridge, Jacksonville & Kenansville, NC · Wilmington Metro, NC · Based on public reviews & parent communities

Finding the right childcare
in Holly Ridge, Jacksonville & Kenansville

During World War II, Holly Ridge was transformed by Camp Davis, a massive 45,000-acre Army training installation that at its peak supported over 100,000 service members and became one of the country's most significant military facilities of its kind. Jacksonville is home to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, a 246-square-mile military training facility established in 1942 that shaped the city's identity and development. Kenansville serves as the county seat of Duplin County, a major agricultural hub that has historically contained the nation's largest hog population. We analyzed all 4 North Carolina-licensed childcare centers across Holly Ridge, Jacksonville & Kenansville, scoring each on 11 real dimensions from parent reviews. 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.

4Centers reviewed
11Dimensions scored
1,000+Reviews analyzed
73,478City population
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Score key
9–10 exceptional
7–8 strong
4–6 average or below

Strengths

  • 5-star NC DCDEE license in Onslow County
  • Capacity of 100 children serving infants through age 12
  • Faith-based atmosphere with emphasis on nurturing and love

Considerations

  • No published parent reviews found on major review platforms
  • Yelp listing is categorized under Religious Organizations, suggesting limited general public visibility

Strengths

  • 5-star NC DCDEE license with large capacity of 174 children
  • Full age range from infants to school-age with NC Free Pre-K available
  • Director Jennifer Lopez emphasizes open parent communication through CN Moments app
  • HighReach Learning Curriculum with USDA-approved meals

Considerations

  • Infant and Twos programs on waitlist at time of review
3
Licensed Childcare Center
5-Star DCDEENC Pre-KPender County
7.5/ 10

Strengths

  • 5-star DCDEE rating — highest NC state license tier
  • Uses Conscious Discipline, The Creative Curriculum, and NC Foundations frameworks
  • NC Pre-K slots available; serves Coastal and Dixon Elementary school bus routes
  • Smaller enrollment (45 capacity) means more individualized attention

Considerations

  • Serves ages 3–12 only; not suitable for infants or toddlers under 3
  • Limited capacity means enrollment fills quickly
  • Very limited public online reviews; reputation is primarily community-based

Strengths

  • 4-star NC DCDEE license with large capacity of 174 children
  • Serving Duplin County families since 1997
  • Clean inspection record — most recent inspection (January 2024) showed zero violations
  • Participates in subsidized child care program

Considerations

  • No published parent reviews on major platforms
  • One medication management violation documented in February 2023
No centers match this filter.

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