Highland Charter Head Start

Center · Gastonia · 324 North Highland Street

What kind of place is this?

Size 135 children licensed In the middle half for Charlotte centers, where the middle half licenses 50–162. Measured across 598 Charlotte centers, 2026-08-17.

Who runs it

Ownership Non-profit Registered 501(c)(3), EIN 56-0841937 — IRS Exempt Organization file, matched to the licensee North Carolina DCDEE names. ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov

How this compares

North Carolina DCDEE cited something at 3 of the 8 visits below. Across Charlotte centers it cites something at about 57% of visits. Each state decides what gets written up, so this compares Charlotte with Charlotte and never with another state.

Will it fit our family?

Not yet reported: ages served, hours, days / week, schedule, holiday closures.

What will it cost us?

This provider does not publish pricing.

What Shortlist has verified

State quality rating Five Star License
License status Active

State record — North Carolina DCDEE

Last visit
March 23, 2026
On file
8 visits since September 2023 — 5 cited nothing, 3 of those unannounced
Fixed?
All 9 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 nothing cited
Oct 2025 Unannounced visit nothing cited
May 2025 Unannounced visit nothing cited
May 2025 Announced visit nothing cited
Apr 2025 Unannounced visit 2 findings

Unannounced visit · April 30, 2025

Prior to the expiration date of the qualification letter, the child care provider did not complete and submit required forms to complete a criminal background check (a qualification letter is valid for a maximum of five years for the date of issuance). One (1) staff member, Lindsey Littlejohn, employed on August 23, 2024, had a qualification letter on file with an expiration date of January 17, 2025. A new qualification letter was not received until February 10, 2025.

Violation corrected during visit

A valid qualification letter was not on file and available to review at the facility. One (1) staff member, Lindsey Littlejohn, employed on August 23, 2024, had a qualification letter on file with an expiration date of January 17, 2025. The staff member did not have a current staff qualification letter on file for review from January 17, 2025, through February 09, 2025.

Violation corrected during visit

DCDEE facility lookup

Sep 2024 Announced visit nothing cited
Sep 2024 Unannounced visit 1 finding

Unannounced visit · September 5, 2024

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, two (2) tubes of Crest Kids Cavity Protection toothpaste, one (1) tube of Aim toothpaste, two (2) aerosol cans of Lysol disinfectant spray, one (1) aerosol can of True Living disinfectant spray, (1) spray bottle of Lysol multi-surface cleaner, and one (1) spray bottle of Value cleaner with bleach were in an unlocked closet and accessible to children. In space #4, two (2) aerosol cans of Walgreens disinfectant spray, one (1) aerosol can of Chase’s Clean Home disinfectant spray, one (1) spray bottle of Power House glass cleaner, one (1) aerosol can of Wizard air freshener, one (1) aerosol can of Homebright disinfectant spray, and one (1) aerosol can of Scrubfree bathroom cleaner were in an unlocked closet and accessible to children with the key in the lock. One (1) gallon jug of Zep neutral pH floor cleaner, one (1) Deb aerosol can of foam hand soap, one (1) spray bottle of Buckeye Eco glass cleaner, one (1) gallon jug of Step germicidal cleaner and deodorant, (1) bottle of Power House glass cleaner wipes, and one (1) Home Store glass and surface cleaner were observed in the unlocked janitorial supply closet located in the hallway and accessible to children.

Violation corrected during visit

DCDEE facility lookup

Sep 2023 Unannounced visit 6 findings

Unannounced visit · September 20, 2023

Daily records of arrival and departure times for children enrolled at the center were not maintained as children arrive and depart and/or were not made available for review. In space #102, two children were not signed out on 9/18/2023. In space #105, one child was not signed in on 9/19/2023. In space #106, sixteen children were not signed out on 9/19/2023.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 10/4/2023

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 #104, one electrical outlet not in use was uncovered and accessible to children above the counter.

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 #103, four alcohol prep pads and two antiseptic towelettes with safety warnings stating, "keep out of reach of children; if swallowed get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away," were observed in a first aid kit. The unlocked first aid kit containing the hazardous products was located in an unlocked cabinet.

Violation corrected during visit

Each new employee did not complete, within the first two weeks of employment, six clock hours of training in required topic areas. One staff employed on 9/5/2023 did not complete 6 hours of orientation training on the required topics within the first two weeks of employment. One staff employed on 7/7/2023 did not complete the first two week orientation training until 9/13/2023. One staff employed on 3/21/2023 did not complete the first two week orientation training until 4/20/2023.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 10/4/2023

All vehicles used to transport children were not free of hazards. On one bus used to transport children, foam padding was exposed on four of the safety harness seats.

Violation corrected during visit

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. The acknowledgement for the Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy for one staff employed on 7/7/2023 and one staff employed on 8/25/2023 was not on file for review.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 10/4/2023

DCDEE facility lookup

Before you tour

Highland Charter Head Start hasn’t published

Cost, hours and late pickup, a typical day, sick and biting policies.

Ask which of these findings were serious.North Carolina DCDEE records the correction in its own words, but never says how serious it was.

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.

What kind of place is this

Not yet reported: established, teaching approach.

Who runs it

Licensing and contact

State record

Every state visit and complaint on file, shown in full and never edited. Open a date to read what the state wrote.

Do you run Highland Charter Head Start? Shortlist has no tuition, hours or ratios for it, because the state does not publish that. Add what is missing. It is free and takes about ten minutes.