Seattle · Licensed center
Northgate KinderCare
At a glance
- Large center, licensed for 164 children.
- Hours 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., 5 days a week.
- KinderCare: public company; majority holder Partners Group (private equity).
Company news
KinderCare, the company that runs this center, reported in a federal filing that it permanently closed 49 of its early childhood centers in the six months ending July 4, 2026. It ran 1,567 of these centers at the end of that period. In the same filing, it reported closing 7 in the same six months of 2025.
The filing is about the company. It does not name which centers closed.
KinderCare’s quarterly report to the SEC, filed August 13, 2026. Shortlist last read it on November 3, 2026.
Worth knowing
Now open 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; was 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Seen in September 2026.
Is this normal? No other Seattle center we checked shortened its day this fall.
Based on 153 Seattle centers whose own websites listed their hours this summer and again this fall.
Why this happens
A center’s hours depend on its staffing. Washington requires enough qualified staff to meet teacher-to-child ratios during all operating hours, and the state’s 2026 child care cost study found many providers short of staff.
Ask them: whether the new hours are permanent, and whether the price changed with them.
What to know
The license is the range the state allows. It does not say which ages have openings.
What the state has found
Someone reported a concern to the state, and in November 2025 the state found it valid. The state also cited rules at 3 of its 4 licensing inspections since October 2023.
See each inspection and complaint
Complaints the state found valid
Received Aug 12, 2025Valid complaintresolved Nov 10, 2025
Of the 210 Seattle-area centers licensed for 116 to 323 children, 98 (47%) have no valid complaint in the last three years; 112 (53%) have one or more, as this center does.
How all 210 similar-size centers compare
Of the 210 Seattle-area centers licensed for 116 to 323 children, how many valid complaints each had in the last three years:
- None47%
- One or more53%This center
Licensing inspections
- Jun 25, 2026Nothing cited
May 11, 20265 citations
Training requirementsSerious. Fix within 5 business days. The licensor rechecks within 10.
“Food Handler's permit expired for M.F., V.R. O.M.”
WAC 110-300-0106(12)
Emergency preparation and exitingSerious. Fix within 5 business days. The licensor rechecks within 10.
“In a preschool and a toddler room, there is a green button that must be pushed to exit or else the door is locked.”
WAC 110-300-0166(3)(a)
Emergency preparedness planShort Term. Fix within 10 business days. Rechecked within 15.
“Unable to locate fire drill logs this year or last, and re-vamping forms, so licensor cannot verify the drills were done.”
WAC 110-300-0470(4)(a)
Emergency preparedness planShort Term. Fix within 10 business days. Rechecked within 15.
“Unable to verify disaster drills were completed this year or 2025.”
WAC 110-300-0470(4)(b)
Immunizations and exempt childrenLong Term. The state’s lowest risk level. Fix within 20 business days, no recheck.
“One child reviewed does not have a completed Certificate of Immunization status (CIS) form.”
WAC 110-300-0210(1)(2)
Feb 13, 20253 citations
Equipment and surfaces in outdoor early learning spaceSerious. Fix within 5 business days. The licensor rechecks within 10.
“It was observed that the older playground had approximately 1" depth of wood chips in good condition.”
WAC 110-300-0146(1)(a)(b)
MedicationSerious. Fix within 5 business days. The licensor rechecks within 10.
“It was observed that left over diaper creams were kept onsite for children who no longer need them, or no longer attend. An EpiPen was observed to be stored without the label.”
WAC 110-300-0215(3)(a)(i)
Safety requirementsShort Term. Fix within 10 business days. Rechecked within 15.
“It was observed that a play structure on the playground had chipped paint in areas.”
WAC 110-300-0165(3)(g)
Oct 10, 20231 citation
MedicationSerious. Fix within 5 business days. The licensor rechecks within 10.
“2 Epipens were not accompanied with a medication authorization form and one was expired.”
WAC 110-300-0215(3)(a)(i)
The state cited rules at 3 of this center's 4 inspections. Seattle-area centers inspected 4 times split about evenly: about a third had fewer, a third the same, and a third more (272 centers).
How all 272 Seattle-area centers inspected 4 times compare
Of the 272 Seattle-area centers the state inspected 4 times, how many of those inspections cited a rule:
- None7%
- 1 of 415%
- 2 of 417%
- 3 of 433%This center
- All 429%
Read every record and the state’s reports
Across KinderCare's 33 locations in the Seattle area, it cited something at 81% of 135 visits.
State record — Washington DCYF
- Last visit
- June 25, 2026
- On file
- 4 visits since October 2023 — 1 cited nothing · 1 complaint investigation
- Most serious
- Serious —
Food Handler's permit expired for M.F., V.R. O.M.
· May 11, 2026
Washington DCYF publishes each citation in the licensor’s own words, with a risk level.
May 2026 Licensing visit 5 findings
Licensing visit · May 11, 2026
WAC 110-300-0106(12) · Serious
Food Handler's permit expired for M.F., V.R. O.M.
Emergency preparation and exiting
WAC 110-300-0166(3)(a) · Serious
In a preschool and a toddler room, there is a green button that must be pushed to exit or else the door is locked.
Immunizations and exempt children
WAC 110-300-0210(1)(2) · Long Term
One child reviewed does not have a completed Certificate of Immunization status (CIS) form.
WAC 110-300-0470(4)(a) · Short Term
Unable to locate fire drill logs this year or last, and re-vamping forms, so licensor cannot verify the drills were done.
WAC 110-300-0470(4)(b) · Short Term
Unable to verify disaster drills were completed this year or 2025.
Aug 2025 Complaint 2 valid issues
Complaint · Received August 12, 2025 · Resolved November 10, 2025
Feb 2025 Licensing visit 3 findings
Licensing visit · February 13, 2025
Equipment and surfaces in outdoor early learning space
WAC 110-300-0146(1)(a)(b) · Serious
It was observed that the older playground had approximately 1" depth of wood chips in good condition.
WAC 110-300-0165(3)(g) · Short Term
It was observed that a play structure on the playground had chipped paint in areas.
WAC 110-300-0215(3)(a)(i) · Serious
It was observed that left over diaper creams were kept onsite for children who no longer need them, or no longer attend. An EpiPen was observed to be stored without the label.
Oct 2023 Licensing visit 1 finding
Licensing visit · October 10, 2023
WAC 110-300-0215(3)(a)(i) · Serious
110-300-0215(3)(a)(i) 2 Epipens were not accompanied with a medication authorization form and one was expired.
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.
What it costs
We couldn’t find it, so if you know, please share. We’ll publish it and work to confirm it with the provider directly too.
A day here
6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., 5 days a week
Meals, outdoors, diapers and three more
- Meals
- Meals and snacks provided, developed by a registered dietitian; vegetarian option available and menus adapted for food sensitivities
- Outdoors
- Outdoor play decided by KinderCare safety guidelines using temperature, humidity and wind chill, plus state licensing rules
- Diapers
- Diaper changes provided as-needed until child shows interest in toilet learning
- Screens
- Screen-free during School Break Programs (ages 5-12)
- Updates for parents
- KinderCare App: daily photos, updates on what the child is learning, and messaging with the center (all KinderCare schools)
- Schedule
- Part-time and full-time
Who cares for your child
Jenny Titsworth (Center Director) since 2006.
20 years · Seattle-area median 13, among 77 that publish
Details
- Phone
- (206) 362-7164
- Address
- 11395 5th Ave NE, Seattle, 98125
- License
- PL-11258
- Quality program
- Early Achievers Level 3
- Siblings
- Sibling discounts
We couldn’t find some information that may matter to your decision: openings, Working Connections subsidy, tuition, teaching approach, and sick and biting policies. We can ask the program for you and copy you in.
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.
Who cares for your child
- Staff kindercare.com
What it costs
- Sibling discount — Checked September 2026 kindercare.com
State record
From Washington DCYF’s published reports, last checked November 3, 2026.
Washington’s four risk levels, highest first: Immediate, Serious, Short Term, Long Term. Deadlines from DCYF procedure PRO 10.1.21.
Ages
A day here
- Meals, Outdoors, Hours, Schedule — Checked September 2026 kindercare.com
- Sleep, Diapers, Screens — Checked August 2026 kindercare.com
- Updates for parents — Checked September 2026 kindercare.com
What changed
kindercare.com/…/wa/000534, saved between June 16 and July 20, 2026, and again September 26, 2026
Washington rule on center ratios and group sizes (WAC 110-300-0356), read October 9, 2026
Washington Cost of Quality Child Care and Market Rate Study, Washington Department of Children, Youth, and Families, June 17, 2026
Details
- Phone — Checked April 2026 kindercare.com
- Website — Checked July 2026 kindercare.com
- Address — Checked June 2026 data.wa.gov
- License, Quality program — Checked March 2026 data.wa.gov
- Ages on the license — Checked September 2026 findchildcarewa.org
- Ages they serve — Checked September 2026 kindercare.com
- Who runs it — Checked October 2026 kindercare.com
- Who runs it — Checked October 2026 sec.gov/…/klc-20260704.htm
From KinderCare's quarterly report to the SEC, filed August 13, 2026. sec.gov
Large means the biggest quarter of Seattle-area’s 855 licensed centers by state-licensed capacity: 116 to 323 children. Small is 6 to 40; medium is 41 to 115.
The ages on the license are what the state licenses it to care for, which can be wider than the ages it takes.