🏆 Ranked #3 in Newton Grove, Richlands & Shallotte · 7.0 / 10 overall
Awards Earned
Top 3 in Newton Grove, Richlands & Shallotte
Ranked among the top 3 childcare centers in Newton Grove, Richlands & Shallotte across all 11 quality dimensions — placing this center in the very top tier of local options.
Best Teachers
Earned the highest teacher-quality score in Newton Grove, Richlands & Shallotte. This dimension reflects staff credentials, tenure, warmth, and how consistently parents praise individual teachers.
Best Curriculum
Earned the highest curriculum score in Newton Grove, Richlands & Shallotte. This dimension evaluates structured learning, developmental programming, and how well daily activities prepare children for each stage.
Best K-Ready
Earned the highest kindergarten-readiness score in Newton Grove, Richlands & Shallotte. This dimension weighs literacy and numeracy foundations, school-transition preparation, and reported outcomes.
Best Culture
Earned the highest culture score in Newton Grove, Richlands & Shallotte. This dimension captures a sense of community, inclusivity, staff morale, and the feeling families describe when they walk through the door.
Best Arts & Music
Earned the highest arts & music score in Newton Grove, Richlands & Shallotte. This dimension reflects the depth and consistency of creative programming — visual arts, music, movement, and imaginative play.
Best Extracurriculars
Earned the highest extracurriculars score in Newton Grove, Richlands & Shallotte. This dimension covers enrichment beyond core care — sports, languages, field trips, and special programs.
Full Ranking Detail
childcarepreschool
The Kids Connection is a five-star DCDEE-licensed, privately owned center serving Shallotte and western Brunswick County from infancy through school age. Its nine classrooms, qualified teaching staff, and NC Pre-K affiliation position it as the premier licensed childcare option in the Shallotte area. A February 2026 inspection with zero violations confirms current compliance, though the limited public review record means prospective families should visit in person to form their own judgment.
Safety7.0
Curriculum8.0
Art / Music6.0
Infant care7.0
Kindergarten readiness8.0
Teacher quality8.0
Compassion7.0
Management6.0
Culture7.0
Class sizes7.0
Extracurriculars6.0
What parents say
“Excellent childcare center, always super clean and the teachers are compassionate about what they do.”
Programs & curriculum
Programs & activities: Before and after school care, NC Pre-K program, and transportation to multiple local schools including Union Elementary, Jessie Mae Monroe Elementary, Waccamaw School, and Classical Charter School of Southport.
What sets it apart: Five-star rated facility serving ages 6 weeks to 12 years with nine classrooms and qualified teachers. Licensed NC Pre-K site; contracts with Brunswick County DSS and Brunswick Community College for financial assistance; open Monday-Friday 7am-5:30pm.
Recognition of Excellence — Website Badge
🏆 For Center Directors
Your center has earned independent recognition based on verified parent reviews. You are welcome to display this badge on your website. Paste the snippet below into your site's HTML — it links back to this verified recognition page.
Top 3 in Newton Grove, Richlands & Shallotte
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: The Kids Connection -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/north-carolina/wilmington/newton-grove-richlands-shallotte/the-kids-connection/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="display:flex;align-items:flex-start;gap:16px;padding:18px;background:#FFFBF0;border:1px solid #EDD97A;border-radius:10px;max-width:420px;text-decoration:none;color:inherit;font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,'Segoe UI',Roboto,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;">
<img src="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/badges/rank-3-city.jpg" alt="Top 3 in Newton Grove, Richlands & Shallotte - The Kids Connection - Newton Grove, Richlands & Shallotte, NC" width="80" height="80" style="border-radius:8px;flex-shrink:0;" loading="lazy">
<span>
<strong style="display:block;font-size:15px;color:#1A1A18;margin-bottom:5px;">Top 3 in Newton Grove, Richlands & Shallotte</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Ranked among the top 3 childcare centers in Newton Grove, Richlands & Shallotte across all 11 quality dimensions — placing this center in the very top tier of local options.</span>
</span>
</a>
Best Teachers
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: The Kids Connection -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/north-carolina/wilmington/newton-grove-richlands-shallotte/the-kids-connection/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="display:flex;align-items:flex-start;gap:16px;padding:18px;background:#FFFBF0;border:1px solid #EDD97A;border-radius:10px;max-width:420px;text-decoration:none;color:inherit;font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,'Segoe UI',Roboto,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;">
<img src="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/badges/dim-teacherq.jpg" alt="Best Teachers - The Kids Connection - Newton Grove, Richlands & Shallotte, NC" width="80" height="80" style="border-radius:8px;flex-shrink:0;" loading="lazy">
<span>
<strong style="display:block;font-size:15px;color:#1A1A18;margin-bottom:5px;">Best Teachers</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Earned the highest teacher-quality score in Newton Grove, Richlands & Shallotte. This dimension reflects staff credentials, tenure, warmth, and how consistently parents praise individual teachers.</span>
</span>
</a>
Best Curriculum
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: The Kids Connection -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/north-carolina/wilmington/newton-grove-richlands-shallotte/the-kids-connection/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="display:flex;align-items:flex-start;gap:16px;padding:18px;background:#FFFBF0;border:1px solid #EDD97A;border-radius:10px;max-width:420px;text-decoration:none;color:inherit;font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,'Segoe UI',Roboto,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;">
<img src="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/badges/dim-curriculum.jpg" alt="Best Curriculum - The Kids Connection - Newton Grove, Richlands & Shallotte, NC" width="80" height="80" style="border-radius:8px;flex-shrink:0;" loading="lazy">
<span>
<strong style="display:block;font-size:15px;color:#1A1A18;margin-bottom:5px;">Best Curriculum</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Earned the highest curriculum score in Newton Grove, Richlands & Shallotte. This dimension evaluates structured learning, developmental programming, and how well daily activities prepare children for each stage.</span>
</span>
</a>
Best K-Ready
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: The Kids Connection -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/north-carolina/wilmington/newton-grove-richlands-shallotte/the-kids-connection/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="display:flex;align-items:flex-start;gap:16px;padding:18px;background:#FFFBF0;border:1px solid #EDD97A;border-radius:10px;max-width:420px;text-decoration:none;color:inherit;font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,'Segoe UI',Roboto,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;">
<img src="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/badges/dim-kinder.jpg" alt="Best K-Ready - The Kids Connection - Newton Grove, Richlands & Shallotte, NC" width="80" height="80" style="border-radius:8px;flex-shrink:0;" loading="lazy">
<span>
<strong style="display:block;font-size:15px;color:#1A1A18;margin-bottom:5px;">Best K-Ready</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Earned the highest kindergarten-readiness score in Newton Grove, Richlands & Shallotte. This dimension weighs literacy and numeracy foundations, school-transition preparation, and reported outcomes.</span>
</span>
</a>
Best Culture
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: The Kids Connection -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/north-carolina/wilmington/newton-grove-richlands-shallotte/the-kids-connection/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="display:flex;align-items:flex-start;gap:16px;padding:18px;background:#FFFBF0;border:1px solid #EDD97A;border-radius:10px;max-width:420px;text-decoration:none;color:inherit;font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,'Segoe UI',Roboto,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;">
<img src="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/badges/dim-culture.jpg" alt="Best Culture - The Kids Connection - Newton Grove, Richlands & Shallotte, NC" width="80" height="80" style="border-radius:8px;flex-shrink:0;" loading="lazy">
<span>
<strong style="display:block;font-size:15px;color:#1A1A18;margin-bottom:5px;">Best Culture</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Earned the highest culture score in Newton Grove, Richlands & Shallotte. This dimension captures a sense of community, inclusivity, staff morale, and the feeling families describe when they walk through the door.</span>
</span>
</a>
Best Arts & Music
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: The Kids Connection -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/north-carolina/wilmington/newton-grove-richlands-shallotte/the-kids-connection/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="display:flex;align-items:flex-start;gap:16px;padding:18px;background:#FFFBF0;border:1px solid #EDD97A;border-radius:10px;max-width:420px;text-decoration:none;color:inherit;font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,'Segoe UI',Roboto,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;">
<img src="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/badges/dim-arts.jpg" alt="Best Arts & Music - The Kids Connection - Newton Grove, Richlands & Shallotte, NC" width="80" height="80" style="border-radius:8px;flex-shrink:0;" loading="lazy">
<span>
<strong style="display:block;font-size:15px;color:#1A1A18;margin-bottom:5px;">Best Arts & Music</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Earned the highest arts & music score in Newton Grove, Richlands & Shallotte. This dimension reflects the depth and consistency of creative programming — visual arts, music, movement, and imaginative play.</span>
</span>
</a>
Best Extracurriculars
<!-- Recognition of Excellence: The Kids Connection -->
<a href="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/north-carolina/wilmington/newton-grove-richlands-shallotte/the-kids-connection/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="display:flex;align-items:flex-start;gap:16px;padding:18px;background:#FFFBF0;border:1px solid #EDD97A;border-radius:10px;max-width:420px;text-decoration:none;color:inherit;font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,'Segoe UI',Roboto,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;">
<img src="https://creativemindsmontessori.com/US-wide-childcare-preschool-rankings/badges/dim-extra.jpg" alt="Best Extracurriculars - The Kids Connection - Newton Grove, Richlands & Shallotte, NC" width="80" height="80" style="border-radius:8px;flex-shrink:0;" loading="lazy">
<span>
<strong style="display:block;font-size:15px;color:#1A1A18;margin-bottom:5px;">Best Extracurriculars</strong>
<span style="font-size:13px;color:#4A4A46;line-height:1.5;">Earned the highest extracurriculars score in Newton Grove, Richlands & Shallotte. This dimension covers enrichment beyond core care — sports, languages, field trips, and special programs.</span>
</span>
</a>
This recognition is awarded independently by Creative Minds Montessori based on publicly available parent reviews and public records. Centers do not pay for or request these rankings. Scores reflect editorial synthesis of verified parent experience — not center marketing materials. Rankings are updated periodically as new reviews are analyzed.
