Skip to main content

Cherryville · Licensed center

Cherryville Head Start

At a glance

  • Small center, licensed for 40 children.
  • Run by a nonprofit. A board oversees it, and there are no owners taking profit.

What the state has found

The state cited rules at 5 of its 8 licensing inspections since September 2023.

See each inspection

Licensing inspections

  • Mar 9, 20264 citations
    • Citation
      • “Operator has not scheduled and obtained a fire inspection within 12 months of the previous inspection. Operator did not submit the original approved report to DCDEE within one week of the inspection visit on a form provided by the Division. The most recent approved fire inspection was completed on October 28, 2025. The fire inspection was due to be completed by September 24, 2025.”

        Violation corrected during visit

    • Citation
      • “A child care operator did not notify the Division of any new child care providers, as defined in G.S. 110-90.2(a)(2), who were hired or moved into the child care facility within five business days. One staff member employed on February 24, 2026, one staff member employed on June 13, 2022, and one staff member employed on September 2, 2025, were not entered into the Automated Background Check Management System (ABCMS) Provider Portal.”

        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 facility’s last annual Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan was reviewed and updated on December 10, 2024.”

        Violation corrected during visit

    • 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 member employed on September 2, 2025, did not have receipt of completion of the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training.”

        Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 3/16/2026

  • Aug 26, 2025Nothing cited
  • Jan 28, 20251 citation
    • Citation
      • “Leftover medicines were not returned to the parent after the course of treatment was completed, after authorization was withdrawn or after authorization had expired and/or medication was not discarded within 72 hours of completion of treatment or withdrawal of authorization. In Space #2, was one (1) tube of triamcinolone acetonide ointment with an expiration date of 12/2024.”

        Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 2/6/2025

  • Sep 4, 20243 citations
    • Citation
      • “Electrical outlets and power strips, not in use, which were located in space used by children did not have safety outlets or were not covered with safety plugs unless located behind furniture or equipment that cannot be moved by a child. In space #1, one (1) electrical outlet not in use was uncovered and accessible to children in the power strip attached to the back of the portable HATCH smart board. The back of the smart board was adjacent to the reading nook and accessible to children. In space #2, three (3) electrical outlets not in use were uncovered and accessible to children in the power strip attached to the back of the portable HATCH smart board. The back of the smart board was adjacent to the block area and accessible to children.”

        Violation corrected during visit

    • 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 #1, one (1) tube of Colgate Kids Cavity Protection toothpaste, one (1) tube of Crest Kids Cavity Protection toothpaste, five (5) aerosol cans of Lysol disinfectant spray, one (1) aerosol can of Chase’s Clean Home disinfectant spray, one (1) bottle of Lysol multi-surface cleaner refill solution, and two (2) spray bottles of Lysol multi-surface cleaner were in an unlocked cabinet above the sink and accessible to children with the key in the lock.”

        Violation corrected during visit

    • Citation
      • “Medications including prescription and non-prescription items were not stored in a locked cabinet or other locked container. In space #1, one (1) bottle of Children’s Allergy liquid oral medication was in the unlocked cabinet above the sink, and accessible to children, with the key in the lock.”

        Violation corrected during visit

  • Jun 4, 20241 citation
    • Citation
      • “Each child was not attended to in a nurturing and appropriate manner, or in keeping with the child's developmental needs. On April 15, 2024, a staff member lifted a three-year-old child by one arm from a seated position to a standing position. Once standing the staff member placed their hand on the child's back and pushed the child forward.”

        Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 6/7/2024

  • May 17, 2024Nothing cited
  • Apr 26, 2024Nothing cited
  • Sep 14, 20236 citations
    • Citation
      • “Electrical outlets and power strips, not in use, which were located in space used by children did not have safety outlets or were not covered with safety plugs unless located behind furniture or equipment that cannot be moved by a child. In space #2, two electrical outlets in the power strip hanging on the wall beside the tablets were uncovered and accessible to children.”

        Violation corrected during visit

    • Citation
      • “Medications including prescription and non-prescription items were not stored in a locked cabinet or other locked container. In space #2, cough drops belonging to a staff member were observed in an unlocked cabinet above the sink.”

        Violation corrected during visit

    • Citation
      • “New staff, who had contact with children, did not receive at least 16 hrs. orientation within first 6 weeks. One staff employed on 7/10/2023 and one staff employed on 7/13/2023 did not receive 16 hours of orientation in all required topics within the first six weeks of employment.”

        Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 9/28/2023

    • Citation
      • “The Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy was not reviewed with new staff prior to providing care with children and/or a signed acknowledgement with all the required information was not maintained in the staff person's file. One staff employed on 9/11/2023 did not sign an acknowledgement for the Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy until 9/13/2023. This staff's first day working with children was 9/11/2023.”

        Violation corrected during visit

    • 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 employed on 8/1/2022 did not complete Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within the first 90 days of employment.”

        Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 9/28/2023

    • Citation
      • “Staff did not complete the health and safety training within one year of employment. One staff employed on 8/1/2022 did not complete health and safety trainings within the first year of employment.”

        Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 9/28/2023

The state cited rules at 5 of this center's 8 inspections. Charlotte-area centers inspected 8 times split about evenly: about a third had fewer, a third the same, and a third more (73 centers).

How all 73 Charlotte-area centers inspected 8 times compare

Of the 73 Charlotte-area centers the state inspected 8 times, how many of those inspections cited a rule:

  • 1 of 81%
  • 2 of 84%
  • 3 of 814%
  • 4 of 812%
  • 5 of 829%This center
  • 6 of 823%
  • 7 of 815%
  • All 81%
Read every record and the state’s reports

State record — North Carolina DCDEE

Last visit
March 9, 2026
On file
8 visits since September 2023 — 3 cited nothing, 3 of those unannounced
Fixed?
All 15 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.

Mar 2026 Unannounced visit 4 findings

Unannounced visit · March 9, 2026

Operator has not scheduled and obtained a fire inspection within 12 months of the previous inspection. Operator did not submit the original approved report to DCDEE within one week of the inspection visit on a form provided by the Division. The most recent approved fire inspection was completed on October 28, 2025. The fire inspection was due to be completed by September 24, 2025.

Violation corrected during visit

A child care operator did not notify the Division of any new child care providers, as defined in G.S. 110-90.2(a)(2), who were hired or moved into the child care facility within five business days. One staff member employed on February 24, 2026, one staff member employed on June 13, 2022, and one staff member employed on September 2, 2025, were not entered into the Automated Background Check Management System (ABCMS) Provider Portal.

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 facility’s last annual Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan was reviewed and updated on December 10, 2024.

Violation corrected during visit

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 member employed on September 2, 2025, did not have receipt of completion of the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 3/16/2026

DCDEE facility lookup On that page, enter license number 36000601 in the License Number box, choose Search and open the result; the record is listed under Visits.

Aug 2025 Unannounced visit nothing cited
Jan 2025 Unannounced visit 1 finding

Unannounced visit · January 28, 2025

Leftover medicines were not returned to the parent after the course of treatment was completed, after authorization was withdrawn or after authorization had expired and/or medication was not discarded within 72 hours of completion of treatment or withdrawal of authorization. In Space #2, was one (1) tube of triamcinolone acetonide ointment with an expiration date of 12/2024.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 2/6/2025

DCDEE facility lookup On that page, enter license number 36000601 in the License Number box, choose Search and open the result; the record is listed under Visits.

Sep 2024 Unannounced visit 3 findings

Unannounced visit · September 4, 2024

Electrical outlets and power strips, not in use, which were located in space used by children did not have safety outlets or were not covered with safety plugs unless located behind furniture or equipment that cannot be moved by a child. In space #1, one (1) electrical outlet not in use was uncovered and accessible to children in the power strip attached to the back of the portable HATCH smart board. The back of the smart board was adjacent to the reading nook and accessible to children. In space #2, three (3) electrical outlets not in use were uncovered and accessible to children in the power strip attached to the back of the portable HATCH smart board. The back of the smart board was adjacent to the block area and accessible to children.

Violation corrected during visit

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 #1, one (1) tube of Colgate Kids Cavity Protection toothpaste, one (1) tube of Crest Kids Cavity Protection toothpaste, five (5) aerosol cans of Lysol disinfectant spray, one (1) aerosol can of Chase’s Clean Home disinfectant spray, one (1) bottle of Lysol multi-surface cleaner refill solution, and two (2) spray bottles of Lysol multi-surface cleaner were in an unlocked cabinet above the sink and accessible to children with the key in the lock.

Violation corrected during visit

Medications including prescription and non-prescription items were not stored in a locked cabinet or other locked container. In space #1, one (1) bottle of Children’s Allergy liquid oral medication was in the unlocked cabinet above the sink, and accessible to children, with the key in the lock.

Violation corrected during visit

DCDEE facility lookup On that page, enter license number 36000601 in the License Number box, choose Search and open the result; the record is listed under Visits.

Jun 2024 Unannounced visit 1 finding

Unannounced visit · June 4, 2024

Each child was not attended to in a nurturing and appropriate manner, or in keeping with the child's developmental needs. On April 15, 2024, a staff member lifted a three-year-old child by one arm from a seated position to a standing position. Once standing the staff member placed their hand on the child's back and pushed the child forward.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 6/7/2024

DCDEE facility lookup On that page, enter license number 36000601 in the License Number box, choose Search and open the result; the record is listed under Visits.

May 2024 Unannounced visit nothing cited
Apr 2024 Unannounced visit nothing cited
Sep 2023 Unannounced visit 6 findings

Unannounced visit · September 14, 2023

No longer on the state’s site as of September 25, 2026

Electrical outlets and power strips, not in use, which were located in space used by children did not have safety outlets or were not covered with safety plugs unless located behind furniture or equipment that cannot be moved by a child. In space #2, two electrical outlets in the power strip hanging on the wall beside the tablets were uncovered and accessible to children.

Violation corrected during visit

No longer on the state’s site as of September 25, 2026

Medications including prescription and non-prescription items were not stored in a locked cabinet or other locked container. In space #2, cough drops belonging to a staff member were observed in an unlocked cabinet above the sink.

Violation corrected during visit

No longer on the state’s site as of September 25, 2026

New staff, who had contact with children, did not receive at least 16 hrs. orientation within first 6 weeks. One staff employed on 7/10/2023 and one staff employed on 7/13/2023 did not receive 16 hours of orientation in all required topics within the first six weeks of employment.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 9/28/2023

No longer on the state’s site as of September 25, 2026

The Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy was not reviewed with new staff prior to providing care with children and/or a signed acknowledgement with all the required information was not maintained in the staff person's file. One staff employed on 9/11/2023 did not sign an acknowledgement for the Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy until 9/13/2023. This staff's first day working with children was 9/11/2023.

Violation corrected during visit

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 employed on 8/1/2022 did not complete Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within the first 90 days of employment.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 9/28/2023

No longer on the state’s site as of September 25, 2026

Staff did not complete the health and safety training within one year of employment. One staff employed on 8/1/2022 did not complete health and safety trainings within the first year of employment.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 9/28/2023

DCDEE facility lookup On that page, enter license number 36000601 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.

Details

Phone
(704) 435-8946
Address
203 N Elm Street, Cherryville, 28021
License
36000601
Quality program
Five Star License

We couldn’t find some information that may matter to your decision: openings, child care subsidies, cost, hours and late pickup, teaching approach, ratios and staff, a typical day, and sick and biting policies. We can ask the program for you and copy you in.

Run Cherryville Head Start? Correct or add anything here, free.
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.

State record

From North Carolina DCDEE’s published reports, last checked November 8, 2026.

Details

  • Phone, Address, License, Quality program — Checked July 2026 ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov. To check it, open ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/childcaresearch, enter licence 36000601 under License Number, and open the result.
  • Who runs it — Checked October 2026 ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov. To check it, open ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/childcaresearch, enter licence 36000601 under License Number, open the result and expand Owner Information: the licensee is listed as Primary Owner.

Small means the smallest quarter of Charlotte-area’s 605 licensed centers by state-licensed capacity: 11 to 50 children. Medium is 51 to 162; large is 163 to 528.

Watch