La Petite Academy

Center · Charlotte · 9221 South Tryon Street

What kind of place is this?

Size 136 children licensed In the middle half for Charlotte centers, where the middle half licenses 50–162. Measured across 598 Charlotte centers, 2026-08-17.
Approach play-based

In the program’s own words

“Learn as We Grow ® uses hands-on, play-based, and inquiry-driven experiences that cultivate children’s future-ready skills.” lapetite.com, July 2026

Who runs it

Chain La Petite Academy
Owner American Securities (via Learning Care Group) Owned by Learning Care Group, a portfolio company of private-equity firm American Securities (with PSP Investments). american-securities.com

La Petite Academy runs 4 licensed locations in Charlotte.

How this compares

North Carolina DCDEE cited something at 5 of the 11 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.

Who will be with our child?

Will it fit our family?

Ages served 6 weeks to 12 years
Hours 6:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Days / week 5
Schedule part-time
Holiday closures New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Day; closed for in-service training on Presidents' Day and Columbus Day
Accepts subsidy Yes

What will it cost us?

This provider does not publish pricing.

What Shortlist has verified

State quality rating Four Star License
License status Active
Website lapetite.com

State record — North Carolina DCDEE

Last visit
March 5, 2026
On file
11 visits since November 2023 — 6 cited nothing, 6 of those unannounced
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.

Mar 2026 Unannounced visit 1 finding

Unannounced visit · March 5, 2026

Emergency medical care information was not on file in the center on the child's first day of attendance and/or was not updated as changes occurred or at least annually for each child. Emergency medical care information was not updated at least annually for three (3) children.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 3/19/2026

DCDEE facility lookup

Dec 2025 Unannounced visit nothing cited
Oct 2025 Unannounced visit 1 finding

Unannounced visit · October 29, 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). Prior to the expiration date of the qualification letter one (1) child care provider did not complete and submit required forms to complete a criminal background check.

Violation corrected during visit

DCDEE facility lookup

Jun 2025 Unannounced visit nothing cited
Mar 2025 Unannounced visit 2 findings

Unannounced visit · March 11, 2025

Gas tanks, gas, and/or charcoal grills, were not inaccessible or in a protective enclosure, making them accessible to children. A charcoal grill was not inaccessible or in a protective enclosure.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 3/25/2025

Staff did not model appropriate eating behaviors by consuming food or beverages that meet the nutritional requirements specified in the Meal Patterns for Children in Child Care Programs in the presence of children in care. Chic-fil-a carton was observed in space two (2).

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 3/25/2025

DCDEE facility lookup

Jan 2025 Unannounced visit nothing cited
Sep 2024 Unannounced visit 8 findings

Unannounced visit · September 11, 2024

A current activity plan was not posted for each group of children for reference. A current activity plan was not posted for groups five (5) and six (6) for reference.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 9/24/2024

Surfacing did not extend six (6) feet beyond the external limits of the equipment or 3 feet for equipment used only by children less than 2 years of age. Surfacing did not extend six (6) feet beyond the external limits of the equipment or 3 feet for equipment used only by children less than 2 years of age for both playgrounds.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 10/15/2024

All equipment and furnishings were not in good repair. The tic tac toe boards on the bottom of the climbing structure on the preschool playground is severely cracked.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 9/24/2024

Caregivers did not document compliance with visually checking on sleeping infants aged 12 months or younger and/or the documents were not maintained for a minimum of one month. Caregivers did not document compliance with visually checking on sleeping infants aged 12 months or younger.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 9/24/2024

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). Prior to the expiration date of the qualification letter, one (1) child care provider did not complete and submit required forms to complete a criminal background check.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 9/30/2024

New staff, who had contact with children, did not receive at least 16 hrs. orientation within first 6 weeks. One (1) new caregiver, who had contact with children, did not receive at least 16 hrs. orientation within first 6 weeks.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 9/24/2024

A valid qualification letter was not on file and available to review at the facility. A valid qualification letter was not on file and available to review at the facility for one (1) employee.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 9/30/2024

The depth of the loose surfacing was not based on critical height of the equipment. The depth of the mulch on the playgrounds were not based on critical height of the equipment.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 10/10/2024

DCDEE facility lookup

Aug 2024 Unannounced visit nothing cited
Mar 2024 Unannounced visit 6 findings

Unannounced visit · March 26, 2024

Staff/child ratios applicable to a classroom, were not posted in each classroom. Staff/child ratio chart was not posted in space four (4).

Violation corrected during visit

Food substitution was not of comparable food value or recorded on the menu prior to the meal or snack being served. Food substitution was not recorded on the menu prior to lunch being served.

Violation corrected during visit

Application was not signed by the parent. An application was not signed by the parent of one (1) child.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 4/5/2024

Emergency medical care information was not on file in the center on the child's first day of attendance and/or was not updated as changes occurred or at least annually for each child. Emergency medical care information was not updated at least annually for eight (8) children.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 4/5/2024

A written statement from each child's parent giving standing permission which may be valid for up to twelve months for participation in off premise activities that occur on a regular basis was not available. A written statement from each child's parent giving standing permission which may be valid for up to twelve months for participation in off premise activities that occur on a regular basis was not updated annually for nine (9) children.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 4/5/2024

Health and safety training topics were not included as part of on-going training within five years of completing the previous health and safety training topics. Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment was not renewed as part of the on-going health and safety training within in five (5) years for three (3) employees.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 4/5/2024

DCDEE facility lookup

Dec 2023 Unannounced visit nothing cited
Nov 2023 Unannounced visit nothing cited

Before you tour

La Petite Academy hasn’t published

Cost, 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.

Who runs it

Who will be with our child

Not yet reported: children per teacher.

Will it fit our family

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 La Petite Academy? Shortlist has no tuition, ratios or policies for it, because the state does not publish that. Add what is missing. It is free and takes about ten minutes.