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Charlotte · Licensed center

La Petite Academy

lapetite.com

At a glance

  • Medium play-based center, licensed for 136 children.
  • Hours 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., 5 days a week, year round.
  • La Petite Academy: owned by American Securities (private equity).

What to know

They serve: 6 weeks to 12 years (their website).

The license is the range the state allows. It does not say which ages have openings.

What the state has found

The state cited rules at 5 of its 11 licensing inspections since November 2023.

See each inspection

Licensing inspections

  • Mar 5, 20261 citation
    • Citation
      • “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

  • Dec 16, 2025Nothing cited
  • Oct 29, 20251 citation
    • Citation
      • “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

  • Jun 2, 2025Nothing cited
  • Mar 11, 20252 citations
    • Citation
      • “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

    • Citation
      • “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

  • Jan 21, 2025Nothing cited
  • Sep 11, 20248 citations
    • Citation
      • “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

    • Citation
      • “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

    • Citation
      • “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

    • Citation
      • “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

    • Citation
      • “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

    • Citation
      • “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

    • Citation
      • “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

    • Citation
      • “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

  • Aug 7, 2024Nothing cited
  • Mar 26, 20246 citations
    • Citation
      • “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

    • Citation
      • “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

    • Citation
      • “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

    • Citation
      • “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

    • Citation
      • “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

    • Citation
      • “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

  • Dec 22, 2023Nothing cited
  • Nov 28, 2023Nothing cited

The state cited rules at 5 of this center's 11 inspections. Most Charlotte-area centers inspected 10 or more times had rules cited at some but not all of theirs, as this center did: more than 99% of 271.

How all 271 Charlotte-area centers inspected 10 or more times compare

Of the 271 Charlotte-area centers the state inspected 10 or more times, how many of those inspections cited a rule:

  • Someover 99%This center
  • Allunder 1%
Read every record and the state’s reports

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 On that page, enter license number 6055520 in the License Number box, choose Search and open the result; the record is listed under Visits.

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 On that page, enter license number 6055520 in the License Number box, choose Search and open the result; the record is listed under Visits.

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 On that page, enter license number 6055520 in the License Number box, choose Search and open the result; the record is listed under Visits.

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 On that page, enter license number 6055520 in the License Number box, choose Search and open the result; the record is listed under Visits.

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 On that page, enter license number 6055520 in the License Number box, choose Search and open the result; the record is listed under Visits.

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

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.

A day here

6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., 5 days a week, year round

Meals, diapers, updates for parents and two more
Meals
Tuition includes nutritious meals and snacks (all La Petite Academy schools)
Diapers
Diapers and wipes may be included in infant tuition (all La Petite Academy schools)
Updates for parents
SproutAbout family app for classroom photos, activity alerts, and live streaming video (all La Petite Academy schools)
Schedule
Part-time (all La Petite Academy schools)
Closed
7 holidays and breaks a year
DatesNew 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 (all La Petite Academy schools)

How they teach

Play-based

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

Details

Phone
(704) 588-5659
Address
9221 South Tryon Street, Charlotte, 28273
License
6055520
Quality program
Four Star License

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

Run La Petite Academy? 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.

How they teach

State record

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

A day here

Details

La Petite Academy is one of Learning Care Group's brands. The private-equity firm American Securities lists Learning Care Group among its current companies, an investment it made in 2014. american-securities.com

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.

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