Charlotte · Licensed center
La Petite Academy
- Medium play-based center, licensed for 136 children.
- A La Petite Academy center. The chain is owned by American Securities, a private-equity firm.
What the state has found
The state cited rules at 5 of its 11 licensing inspections since November 2023.
Of the 256 Charlotte-area centers with 10 or more licensing inspections, more than 99% had rules cited at some but not all of them, as this center did. Fewer than 1% had rules cited at all of them.
Licensing inspections
Mar 5, 20261 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
Oct 29, 20251 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
Mar 11, 20252 citations
“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
Sep 11, 20248 citations
“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
“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
“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
4 more from this inspection
“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
“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
“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
Mar 26, 20246 citations
“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
“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
2 more from this inspection
“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
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.
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.
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.
Sep 2024 Unannounced visit 8 findings
Unannounced visit · September 11, 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
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
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
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
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.
Mar 2024 Unannounced visit 6 findings
Unannounced visit · March 26, 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
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
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.
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.
Openings, child care subsidies, cost, ratios and staff, and sick and biting policies aren’t on this page.
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.”
A day here
- Hours
- 6:30 AM to 6:00 PM, 5 days a week, year round
- 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
Dates
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 (all La Petite Academy schools)
Details
- Website
- lapetite.com
- Address
- 9221 South Tryon Street
- License
- 6055520, active
- Quality program
- Four Star License
- Ages they serve
- 6 weeks to 12 years
Run La Petite Academy? Correct or add anything here, free.
Add what is missingSources 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
- Approach — Checked July 2026 lapetite.com
State record
From North Carolina DCDEE’s published reports, last checked October 10, 2026.
A day here
- Meals, Diapers, Schedule — Checked July 2026 lapetite.com
- Updates for parents — Checked July 2026 lapetite.com
- Hours — Checked July 2026 lapetite.com
- Calendar, Closed — Checked July 2026 lapetite.com/…/ilcg101-enrollment-packet-lpa.pdf
Details
- Phone, Address, License, Quality program — Checked July 2026 ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov. To check it, open ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/childcaresearch, enter licence 6055520 under License Number, and open the result.
- Website — Checked July 2026 lapetite.com
- Ages they serve — Checked July 2026 lapetite.com/…/ilcg101-enrollment-packet-lpa.pdf
- Who runs it — Checked October 2026 lapetite.com
- Who runs it — Checked October 2026 american-securities.com
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 591 licensed centers by state-licensed capacity: 51 to 162 children. Small is 11 to 50; large is 163 to 528.