Charlotte · Licensed center
Ballancrest Academy
At a glance
- Medium center, licensed for 60 children.
- Tuition Infant $2,051, toddler $1,922, preschool $1,655 a month. See costs
- Run by a for-profit business, which holds the license.
From their website, read July 2026:
“Infants: 1:5”
“Toddlers: 1:6”
“Twos: 1:9”
“Threes: 1:10”
“Fours: 1:13”
“Fives: 1:13”
The state’s rule
North Carolina sets the most children one adult may care for by age, and the largest group size, in 10A NCAC 09 .0713(a).
Children 0 to 12 months: one adult for every five.
Children 12 to 24 months: one adult for every six.
Children 2 to 3 years: one adult for every ten.
Children 3 to 4 years: one adult for every fifteen.
Children 4 to 5 years: one adult for every twenty.
Children 5 years and older: one adult for every 25.
What the state has found
The state cited rules at 7 of its 9 licensing inspections since August 2023.
See each inspection
Licensing inspections
- Nov 2, 2026Nothing cited
Sep 16, 20261 citation
Citation
“The center's safe sleep policy was not posted in a prominent place in the infant room where parents and caregivers were able to view daily. The safe sleep policy was not posted in the infant room.”
Violation corrected during visit
Aug 4, 20263 citations
Citation
“Running water, soap and individual sanitary towels, or other approved hand-drying devices were not supplied at each lavatory. In space #2, there were no paper towels in the rest room.”
Violation corrected during visit
Citation
“Child care providers and uncompensated providers who are not substitute providers or volunteers, including the director did not have a medical report on file prior to employment that was signed by a health care professional and/ or the medical report was older than 12 months. One new staff member's medical report was dated 8/22/23. The new staff member's hire date was 9/2/25.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 8/12/2026
Citation
“On or before the first day of work, all staff, including the director and individuals who volunteer more than once per week did not provide results indicating that they were free of active TB and/or TB test or screening was older than 12 months. One new staff member's TB test was dated 8/18/23. The new staff member's hire date was 9/2/25.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 8/12/2026
- Feb 3, 2026Nothing cited
Aug 13, 20253 citations
Citation
“All walls and ceilings including doors and windows were not kept clean, free of visible fungal growth, and in good repair. In space #1, paint was chipping from the walls in two areas of the classroom.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 8/25/2025
Citation
“The EMC plan did not name the person responsible, and at least one alternate, for choosing and carrying out the plan of action to obtain appropriate medical care. The EMC plan did not have specific names identified on the plan.”
Violation corrected during visit
Citation
“The trained staff did not review the EPR Plan annually or when information in the plan changed to ensure all information was current. The EPR plan was not updated when changes occurred.”
Violation corrected during visit
Mar 12, 20253 citations
Citation
“All corrosive agents, pesticides, bleaches, detergents, cleansers, polishes, any product which is under pressure in an aerosol dispenser, and any substance which may be hazardous to a child if ingested, inhaled, or handled were not stored in a locked room or cabinet. In space #5, there were two aerosol cans of shaving cream in an unlocked upper cabinet and one aerosol can of shaving cream in an unlocked bottom cabinet.”
Violation corrected during visit
Citation
“All staff did not successfully complete certification in First Aid appropriate to the age of children in care. Verification of staff completion of First Aid training from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. One new staff member's First Aid training was not an approved course.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 3/17/2025
Citation
“All staff did not successfully complete certification in CPR training appropriate to the age of the children in care. Verification of staff completion of the CPR course from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. One new staff member's CPR training was not an approved course.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 3/17/2025
Aug 21, 20245 citations
Citation
“The center did not comply with the permit restrictions. The age range for care, listed on the current license, is 0-5. Today, one staff's nine year old child was present because the child's regular care fell through.”
Violation corrected during visit
Citation
“Staff/child ratios applicable to a classroom, were not posted in each classroom. The posted staff/child ratio information posted in Space 1 and 4 were incorrect, they do not have the highest enhanced ratio box checked, which is what the facility is required to follow based on earning 7 points in Program Standards.”
Violation corrected during visit
Citation
“Bed, cribs, playpens, cots or mats were not placed at least 18" apart or separated by partitions when in use. I observed rest time today, cots were not placed at least 18 inches apart in Space 1 and Space 4.”
Violation corrected during visit
Citation
“Plastic bags, materials that could be torn apart and toy parts small enough to be swallowed were accessible to children under three years of age. While in Space 2, I observed a plastic grocery bag hanging from a hook, less than 5 feet, in the children's rest room, storing a child's soiled clothing. Space 2 serves children 2 and 3 years of age.”
Violation corrected during visit
Citation
“Each employee's personnel file did not contain an annual staff evaluation and a staff development plan. One staff has not had an annual review since July 2023.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 8/30/2024
Feb 26, 20242 citations
Citation
“Medication authorization, giving the caregiver standing authorization did not meet the specifications in rule. Space 5 a parent has given permission to administer Children's Allergy relief medication to her child, 5 years of age. The bottles instructions states do not use unless directed by a doctor for children between the ages of 2-5 years. No doctor authorization was given for either medication.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 3/5/2024
Citation
“Staff did not complete the health and safety training within one year of employment. A seasonal employee hired 6/11/21, does not have proof of completing all topic areas of health and safety training within the first year of employment.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 3/5/2024
Aug 29, 20231 citation
Citation
“The child care administrator and all staff did not complete the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days of employment. One staff hired 4-17-23 provided a training certificate dated 11-7-21. Because she completed the training more than a year prior to employment it could not be counted to meet the requirement, she should have completed the training within 90 days of hire.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 8/30/2023
The state cited rules at 7 of this center's 9 inspections. Most Charlotte-area centers inspected 9 times had fewer: 73% of 49 had rules cited at 6 or fewer.
How all 49 Charlotte-area centers inspected 9 times compare
Of the 49 Charlotte-area centers the state inspected 9 times, how many of those inspections cited a rule:
- 1 of 94%
- 2 of 94%
- 3 of 96%
- 4 of 914%
- 5 of 922%
- 6 of 922%
- 7 of 912%This center
- 8 of 912%
- All 92%
Read every record and the state’s reports
State record — North Carolina DCDEE
- Last visit
- November 2, 2026
- On file
- 9 visits since August 2023 — 2 cited nothing
- Fixed?
- All 18 record a correction, in the licensor’s own words.
- Most serious
- North Carolina DCDEE does not publish a severity level for a citation, so there is no most-serious to name.
North Carolina DCDEE describes every citation in the licensor’s own words and records the correction in that same text — the only one of the six states that publishes whether a violation was fixed. It attaches no rule number and no report document.
Sep 2026 Unannounced visit 1 finding
Unannounced visit · September 16, 2026
The center's safe sleep policy was not posted in a prominent place in the infant room where parents and caregivers were able to view daily. The safe sleep policy was not posted in the infant room.
Violation corrected during visit
DCDEE facility lookup On that page, enter license number 60004223 in the License Number box, choose Search and open the result; the record is listed under Visits.
Aug 2026 Unannounced visit 3 findings
Unannounced visit · August 4, 2026
Running water, soap and individual sanitary towels, or other approved hand-drying devices were not supplied at each lavatory. In space #2, there were no paper towels in the rest room.
Violation corrected during visit
Child care providers and uncompensated providers who are not substitute providers or volunteers, including the director did not have a medical report on file prior to employment that was signed by a health care professional and/ or the medical report was older than 12 months. One new staff member's medical report was dated 8/22/23. The new staff member's hire date was 9/2/25.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 8/12/2026
On or before the first day of work, all staff, including the director and individuals who volunteer more than once per week did not provide results indicating that they were free of active TB and/or TB test or screening was older than 12 months. One new staff member's TB test was dated 8/18/23. The new staff member's hire date was 9/2/25.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 8/12/2026
DCDEE facility lookup On that page, enter license number 60004223 in the License Number box, choose Search and open the result; the record is listed under Visits.
Aug 2025 Unannounced visit 3 findings
Unannounced visit · August 13, 2025
All walls and ceilings including doors and windows were not kept clean, free of visible fungal growth, and in good repair. In space #1, paint was chipping from the walls in two areas of the classroom.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 8/25/2025
The EMC plan did not name the person responsible, and at least one alternate, for choosing and carrying out the plan of action to obtain appropriate medical care. The EMC plan did not have specific names identified on the plan.
Violation corrected during visit
The trained staff did not review the EPR Plan annually or when information in the plan changed to ensure all information was current. The EPR plan was not updated when changes occurred.
Violation corrected during visit
DCDEE facility lookup On that page, enter license number 60004223 in the License Number box, choose Search and open the result; the record is listed under Visits.
Mar 2025 Unannounced visit 3 findings
Unannounced visit · March 12, 2025
All corrosive agents, pesticides, bleaches, detergents, cleansers, polishes, any product which is under pressure in an aerosol dispenser, and any substance which may be hazardous to a child if ingested, inhaled, or handled were not stored in a locked room or cabinet. In space #5, there were two aerosol cans of shaving cream in an unlocked upper cabinet and one aerosol can of shaving cream in an unlocked bottom cabinet.
Violation corrected during visit
All staff did not successfully complete certification in First Aid appropriate to the age of children in care. Verification of staff completion of First Aid training from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. One new staff member's First Aid training was not an approved course.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 3/17/2025
All staff did not successfully complete certification in CPR training appropriate to the age of the children in care. Verification of staff completion of the CPR course from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. One new staff member's CPR training was not an approved course.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 3/17/2025
DCDEE facility lookup On that page, enter license number 60004223 in the License Number box, choose Search and open the result; the record is listed under Visits.
Aug 2024 Unannounced visit 5 findings
Unannounced visit · August 21, 2024
The center did not comply with the permit restrictions. The age range for care, listed on the current license, is 0-5. Today, one staff's nine year old child was present because the child's regular care fell through.
Violation corrected during visit
Staff/child ratios applicable to a classroom, were not posted in each classroom. The posted staff/child ratio information posted in Space 1 and 4 were incorrect, they do not have the highest enhanced ratio box checked, which is what the facility is required to follow based on earning 7 points in Program Standards.
Violation corrected during visit
Bed, cribs, playpens, cots or mats were not placed at least 18" apart or separated by partitions when in use. I observed rest time today, cots were not placed at least 18 inches apart in Space 1 and Space 4.
Violation corrected during visit
Plastic bags, materials that could be torn apart and toy parts small enough to be swallowed were accessible to children under three years of age. While in Space 2, I observed a plastic grocery bag hanging from a hook, less than 5 feet, in the children's rest room, storing a child's soiled clothing. Space 2 serves children 2 and 3 years of age.
Violation corrected during visit
Each employee's personnel file did not contain an annual staff evaluation and a staff development plan. One staff has not had an annual review since July 2023.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 8/30/2024
DCDEE facility lookup On that page, enter license number 60004223 in the License Number box, choose Search and open the result; the record is listed under Visits.
Feb 2024 Unannounced visit 2 findings
Unannounced visit · February 26, 2024
Medication authorization, giving the caregiver standing authorization did not meet the specifications in rule. Space 5 a parent has given permission to administer Children's Allergy relief medication to her child, 5 years of age. The bottles instructions states do not use unless directed by a doctor for children between the ages of 2-5 years. No doctor authorization was given for either medication.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 3/5/2024
Staff did not complete the health and safety training within one year of employment. A seasonal employee hired 6/11/21, does not have proof of completing all topic areas of health and safety training within the first year of employment.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 3/5/2024
DCDEE facility lookup On that page, enter license number 60004223 in the License Number box, choose Search and open the result; the record is listed under Visits.
Aug 2023 Unannounced visit 1 finding
Unannounced visit · August 29, 2023
No longer on the state’s site as of September 25, 2026
The child care administrator and all staff did not complete the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days of employment. One staff hired 4-17-23 provided a training certificate dated 11-7-21. Because she completed the training more than a year prior to employment it could not be counted to meet the requirement, she should have completed the training within 90 days of hire.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 8/30/2023
DCDEE facility lookup On that page, enter license number 60004223 in the License Number box, choose Search and open the result; the record is listed under Visits.
Shortlist replaces people’s names in the state’s text with initials. This is done by rule, not by hand, so it can miss a name or shorten a word that isn’t one. The state’s report, linked on each row, has the original.
What it costs
$2,051 a month for an infant
Charlotte-area comparison hidden until they say whether these are full-time prices.
A day here
- Outdoors
- Every infant gets outdoor time, whether on a walk, at the playground, or water play in summer
Details
- Phone
- (704) 841-0805
- Address
- 8165 Ardrey Kell Road, Charlotte, 28277
- License
- 60004223
- Quality program
- Five Star License
We couldn’t find some information that may matter to your decision: openings, child care subsidies, hours and late pickup, teaching approach, and sick and biting policies. We can ask the program for you and copy you in.
Sources and dates
Where every fact on this page came from, and when Shortlist last checked it against that source. Anything Shortlist could not source is named here rather than left blank.
Children per adult
- Children per adult — Checked July 2026 ballancrestacademy.com
What it costs
- Infant, Toddler, Preschool — Checked July 2026 ballancrestacademy.com
State record
From North Carolina DCDEE’s published reports, last checked November 8, 2026.
A day here
- Outdoors — Checked July 2026 ballancrestacademy.com
Details
- Phone, Address, License, Quality program — Checked July 2026 ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov. To check it, open ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/childcaresearch, enter licence 60004223 under License Number, and open the result.
- Website — Checked July 2026 ballancrestacademy.com
- Who runs it — Checked October 2026 ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov. To check it, open ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/childcaresearch, enter licence 60004223 under License Number, open the result and expand Owner Information: the licensee is listed as Primary Owner.
Medium means the middle half of Charlotte-area’s 605 licensed centers by state-licensed capacity: 51 to 162 children. Small is 11 to 50; large is 163 to 528.