Methodology
How Childery Rates North Carolina Daycares
Updated May 2026.
Rating Distribution in North Carolina
Childery shows 5,072 daycares in North Carolina. Here's how their Overall Ratings break down.
Mean rating across all displayed daycares in North Carolina: 3.97.
Process Quality
Childery's Process Rating for North Carolina daycares averages metrics from North Carolina's Quality Rating and Improvement System, National Accreditation Programs, and Federal Head Start Classroom Observation Scores. Missing metrics do not count against a provider.
North Carolina Star Rated License
North Carolina Star Rated License ratings are determined by a program's performance across multiple components (physical space, teaching personnel interactions with children, educational credentials, and experience of teaching and administrative personnel) with classroom observations conducted by trained assessors.
NAEYC Accreditation
NAEYC accreditation is awarded after a provider demonstrates excellence across 9 standards (relationships with children within the classroom, family and community partnerships, curriculum, teaching, assessment, health, physical environment, educator professionalism, and program leadership) through both a document review and on-site classroom visit.
NAC Accreditation
NAC accreditation is awarded after a provider demonstrates excellence across 7 component areas (administration, professional development, family engagement, curriculum, teacher-child interactions, and program- and classroom-level health and safety) through document review, on-site classroom observation, family and employee surveys, and interviews.
NECPA Accreditation
NECPA accreditation is awarded after a provider demonstrates excellence across 4 categories (program administration, teacher-child interactions, curriculum and developmental program, and staff qualifications) through a self-study and improvement period followed by an on-site verification visit reviewing documentation and observing classrooms.
NAFCC Accreditation
NAFCC accreditation is awarded after a home-based provider demonstrates excellence across 5 content areas (relationships, the environment, developmental learning activities, safety and health, and professional and business practices) through a self-study followed by an on-site observation visit with an educator interview.
Federal Head Start Classroom Observation Scores
Head Start CLASS scores are produced for each center across 3 domains (emotional support, classroom organization, and instructional support) by trained federal observers.
Structural Quality
Childery's Structural Rating for North Carolina daycares averages metrics from the North Carolina regulatory baseline, scored against NAEYC, NIEER, Federal Head Start, Federal CCDBG, or Childery benchmarks. Missing metrics do not count against a provider.
- Infants
- NAEYC
- 1:4
- North Carolina
- 1:5
- Toddlers
- NAEYC
- 1:6
- North Carolina
- 1:6
- Preschool
- NAEYC
- 1:10
- North Carolina
- 1:20
- Infants
- NAEYC
- ≤8
- North Carolina
- 10
- Toddlers
- NAEYC
- ≤12
- North Carolina
- 12
- Preschool
- NAEYC
- ≤20
- North Carolina
- 25
- Lead Teacher Credential
- NAEYC/NIEER/Childery
- Bachelor's Degree
- North Carolina
- High School Diploma
- Pre-Service
- NAEYC/NIEER/Childery
- ≥2,080 Hours
- North Carolina
- 4,160 Hours
- Ongoing Professional Development
- NAEYC/NIEER/Childery
- ≥25 Hours/Year
- North Carolina
- 20 Hours/Year
- Federal CCDBG
- First Aid
- North Carolina
- X
- Federal CCDBG
- CPR
- North Carolina
- X
- Federal CCDBG
- Reduction of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
- North Carolina
- X
- Federal CCDBG
- Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases
- North Carolina
- X
- Federal CCDBG
- Administration of Medication
- North Carolina
- X
- Federal CCDBG
- Recognition and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect
- North Carolina
- X
- Federal CCDBG
- Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome
- North Carolina
- X
- Federal CCDBG
- Emergency Preparedness and Response Planning
- North Carolina
- X
- Federal CCDBG
- Precautions in Transporting Children
- North Carolina
- X
- Federal CCDBG
- Child Development
- North Carolina
- X
- Federal CCDBG
- Building and Physical Premises Safety
- North Carolina
- X
- Federal CCDBG
- Handling and Storage of Hazardous Materials
- North Carolina
- X
- Federal CCDBG
- Food Emergencies
- North Carolina
- X
Additional Methodology Information
Need more help? Read frequently asked questions about how Childery rates daycares — covering what each star level means, why Process and Structural are separated, how missing signals are handled, and how to flag a record that looks incorrect.
View Methodology