Rankin II Head Start

Center · Gastonia · 304 N Highland St

What kind of place is this?

Size 70 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 4 of the 7 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?

Accepts subsidy Yes

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
May 4, 2026
On file
7 visits since September 2023 — 3 cited nothing, 2 of those unannounced
Fixed?
All 10 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.

May 2026 Unannounced visit nothing cited
Dec 2025 Unannounced visit 2 findings

Unannounced visit · December 16, 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Leftover medicines were not returned to the parent after the course of treatment was completed, after authorization was withdrawn or after authorization had expired and/or medication was not discarded within 72 hours of completion of treatment or withdrawal of authorization.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 epinephrine injection pen that expired on November 30, 2025.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 12/19/2025

Medical exam or health assessment record was not on file before or within 30 days after admission. One child enrolled on August 25, 2025, in Space #4, had a medical exam completed on September 26, 2025. The medical exam was due to be completed by September 23, 2025.

Violation corrected during visit

DCDEE facility lookup

Jun 2025 Announced visit nothing cited
Feb 2025 Unannounced visit 2 findings

Unannounced visit · February 18, 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, T. Dacus, employed on September 2, 2008, had a qualification letter on file with an expiration date of December 20, 2024. A new qualification letter was not received until February 6, 2025._________________________________________________

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 2/28/2025

A valid qualification letter was not on file and available to review at the facility. One (1) staff member, T. Dacus, employed on September 2, 2008, did not have a qualification letter on file for review from December 20, 2024, through February 6, 2025.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 2/25/2025

DCDEE facility lookup

Jan 2025 Unannounced visit nothing cited
May 2024 Unannounced visit 4 findings

Unannounced visit · May 15, 2024

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 #1, one child was not signed out on 5/8/2024 and 5/13/2024. In space #3, one child was not signed out on 5/3/2024. In space #4, one child was not signed in on 5/6/2024.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 5/17/2024

Electric fans were not mounted out of reach or did not have a mesh guard to prevent access. In space #3, an electric fan was observed on top of a shelf accessible to children that was not mounted nor contained a mesh guard.

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, BIC Cover-It correction fluid with multiple safety warnings and Equate nail polish remover stating “keep out of reach of children” were observed on top of a cubby less than a vertical distance of five feet from the floor accessible to children. In an unlocked cabinet in space #1, Gain aroma boost laundry detergent, Mr. Clean disinfectant wipes, Lysol disinfectant wipes, and Wizard the magic of fresh room mist with multiple safety warnings, were observed on a shelf within the unlocked cabinet less than a vertical distance of five feet from the floor accessible to children. In space #1, two tubes of Kid's Crest Cavity Protection sparkle fun toothpaste were observed in an unlocked drawer less than five feet from the floor accessible to children.

Violation corrected during visit

A violation was found for which there is no item number. Non-aerosol sanitizing solutions, approved disinfectants, detergent solutions, hand antiseptics, and hand lotions shall be kept inaccessible to children when not in use, but are not required to be in locked storage. These solutions shall be labeled as sanitizing, disinfecting, or detergent solutions. Hand soap other than that which is in bulk containers is not required to be kept inaccessible to children or in locked storage. Bulk soaps shall be kept inaccessible to children. In space #1, the disinfectant solution was observed on the counter behind the sink faucet accessible to children and the sanitizer solution was observed on a shelf less than a vertical distance of five feet from the floor accessible to children. This is a violation of sanitation rule 15A NCAC 18A .2820(c).

Violation corrected during visit

DCDEE facility lookup

Sep 2023 Unannounced visit 2 findings

Unannounced visit · September 8, 2023

Center has not passed required sanitation inspection and received an approved or superior rating. The most recent sanitation inspection was completed on September 6, 2022.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 9/12/2023

Bed, cribs, playpens, cots or mats were not placed at least 18" apart or separated by partitions when in use. In space #1, seven cots with sleeping children were spaced less than eighteen inches apart, approximately twelve inches between each cot without a partition. In space #3, five cots with sleeping children were spaced less than eighteen inches apart, approximately twelve inches between each cot without a partition.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 9/12/2023

DCDEE facility lookup

Before you tour

Rankin II 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

Will it fit our family

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

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 Rankin II 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.