Hearth Record

Smyrna Elementary Preschool

A child care center in Smyrna, North Carolina 28579

174 Marshallberg Road, Smyrna, North Carolina 28579. (252) 729-2301.

  • administrative action in the last three years
North Carolina’s own record, on ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov

Watch and the shortlist are kept with a free account, on every device. Your watch list. North Carolina’s own record is on ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov.

The short answer

The last 24 months 7 violations in 4 months of the last 36. Last cited Feb 2026. Every month

Each figure’s source sits beside it, in its section below.

What these words mean5
Inspection (survey)
A visit by state inspectors, often unannounced, who check a place against the rules it must meet. For nursing homes and other places Medicare pays, CMS calls these visits surveys: a standard survey of a nursing home comes at least every 15 months, and a complaint survey whenever a complaint calls for one. Source: CMS; 42 CFR 488.308.
Deficiency, citation, violation
What inspectors write up when a place didn’t meet a rule: the rule, what they saw, and when. CMS calls it a deficiency; states may say citation or violation. It is the inspectors’ finding, not a court’s, and the place is usually asked for a plan to correct it. Source: CMS, statement of deficiencies (Form CMS-2567); each state’s licensing agency.
Quality rating
Many states rate child care in a quality rating system that goes past the licensing rules, such as Texas Rising Star or Kentucky All STARS. Taking part is often voluntary, so a program with no rating hasn’t been rated low. Source: Each state’s quality rating system.
Licence status
Whether the state’s licence lets the place operate now, in the state’s own words: licensed, on probation (allowed to keep operating on conditions, after problems), provisional, pending or expired. Source: Each state’s licensing agency.
Capacity
The most people the licence or certification lets the place care for at once: residents, children, beds or apartments, as the state counts them. It isn’t how many are there now. Source: Each state’s licensing agency.

What did inspectors find?

20 DCDEE visits in the last three years, the latest on Jun 17, 2026.

7 violations cited in the last three years, 7 of them marked corrected.

Source:

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE), Child Care Facility Search (ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov): licences, DCDEE visits and violations. Checked Oct 21, 2026. Updated daily.

When those violations happened

7 violations in 4 months of the last 36. Last cited Feb 2026. The last 3 years, to Nov 3, 2026.

7 violations by month over the last 3 years. Each cell is one month.
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2023 Dec
2024 JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2025 JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2026 JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNov

Hover or focus a month to read it.

No visit on record Visited, nothing cited A stronger orange is more serious, on its source’s own levels, read onto four bands: from the least serious it publishes to the most
Source:

Hearth Record drew this from the dates and levels in the source’s own records.

Each violation, in its source’s words

Grouped by visit, newest first, with the level its source gave it.

Source:

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE), Child Care Facility Search (ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov): licences, DCDEE visits and violations. Checked Oct 21, 2026. Updated daily.

Feb 17, 2026: unannounced2 violations

  • Shelter-in-place or lockdown drills were not practiced every three months and/or drill record was incomplete.

    “The last shelter-in-place or lockdown drill was conducted in October 2025.”

    Rule Shelter-in-place or lockdown drills were not practiced every three months and/or drill record was incomplete.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Feb 23, 2026. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

  • The trained staff did not review the EPR Plan annually or when information in the plan changed to ensure all information was current.

    “The EPR Plan was not updated annually.”

    Rule The trained staff did not review the EPR Plan annually or when information in the plan changed to ensure all information was current.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Feb 23, 2026. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

May 16, 2025: unannounced3 violations

  • A First Aid information sheet was not posted in a place for referral and/or the information sheet did not include all the required information.

    Rule A First Aid information sheet was not posted in a place for referral and/or the information sheet did not include all the required information.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: May 23, 2025. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

  • A summary of the NC Child Care Law was not posted in a prominent place in the center.

    Rule A summary of the NC Child Care Law was not posted in a prominent place in the center.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: May 23, 2025. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

  • Monthly playground inspections were not completed and/or they were not completed by an individual trained in playground safety requirements.

    “Monthly playground inspections were not completed for November 2024, December 2024, January 2025, and February 2025.”

    Rule Monthly playground inspections were not completed and/or they were not completed by an individual trained in playground safety requirements.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: May 23, 2025. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Oct 30, 2024: unannounced1 violation

  • 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.

    “Lysol Disinfectant Spray, Lysol Air Sanitizer, and Febreze Air Fresh-Harvest Pumpkin sprays in aerosol cans were not stored in a locked room or cabinet. These sprays were sitting on a shelf above the sink in the indoor space.”

    Rule 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.. Corrected during the inspection.

May 20, 2024: unannounced1 violation

  • The depth of the loose surfacing was not based on critical height of the equipment.

    “The depth of the mulch in the outdoor space under the large climbing structure was not nine (9) inches.”

    Rule The depth of the loose surfacing was not based on critical height of the equipment.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: May 22, 2024. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

All 20 visits on record
Visits on record
DateVisitWhat the record says
Jun 17, 2026Unannounced visitNo violations cited
May 22, 2026Unannounced visitNo violations cited
Apr 16, 2026Unannounced visitNo violations cited
Mar 19, 2026Unannounced visitNo violations cited
Mar 19, 2026Unannounced visitNo violations cited
Feb 17, 2026Unannounced visitNo violations cited
Feb 17, 2026Unannounced visit2 violations cited
Jan 8, 2026Unannounced visitNo violations cited
Dec 9, 2025Unannounced visitNo violations cited
Nov 4, 2025Unannounced visitNo violations cited
Nov 4, 2025Unannounced visitNo violations cited
Sep 18, 2025Announced visitNo violations cited
Aug 27, 2025Unannounced visitNo violations cited
Jul 24, 2025Unannounced visitNo violations cited
Jun 19, 2025Unannounced visitNo violations cited
May 16, 2025Unannounced visit3 violations cited
May 16, 2025Unannounced visitNo violations cited
Oct 30, 2024Unannounced visit1 violation cited
May 20, 2024Unannounced visit1 violation cited
Nov 13, 2023Unannounced visitNo violations cited

Is it licensed?

  • Child Care Center, holding a Five Star Center License since Jun 19, 2026.
  • Licensed for 18 children, ages 3 through 5.
  • Not enrolled in North Carolina’s subsidized child care program.
  • North Carolina’s licence number: 16000128.
  • Restriction: Other - Reduce ratios by one in each group.
Source:

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE), Child Care Facility Search (ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov): licences, DCDEE visits and violations. Checked Oct 21, 2026. Updated daily.

Has North Carolina acted against it?

  • DCDEE says it has issued one or more administrative actions for this facility in the past three years; North Carolina’s page doesn’t say what they were, and shows one only after its 30-day appeal period.
Source:

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE), Child Care Facility Search (ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov): licences, DCDEE visits and violations. Checked Oct 21, 2026. Updated daily.

Who does the caring?

  • North Carolina’s page gives a staff-to-child ratio policy as the provider reports it, unverified by DCDEE, so it isn’t shown.

Who owns it?

  • Owner, as North Carolina lists it: Carteret County Schools.
Source:

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE), Child Care Facility Search (ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov): licences, DCDEE visits and violations. Checked Oct 21, 2026. Updated daily.

How is it rated?

  • Star Rated License: 5 stars of five.
Source:

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE), Child Care Facility Search (ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov): licences, DCDEE visits and violations. Checked Oct 21, 2026. Updated daily.

How does it compare nearby?

  • Among 22 child care providers in Carteret County, the middle value for violations cited in the last three years was 5.5; this one had 7.
Source:

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE), Child Care Facility Search (ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov): licences, DCDEE visits and violations. Checked Oct 21, 2026. Updated daily.

11 of the 22 in Carteret County, as the source lists them, same ZIP code first
PlaceViolations cited in the last three years
Smyrna Elementary Preschool This child care provider7
Saint James Day Care & Preschool4
Beaufort Child Development Center3
Morehead Primary Preschool2
Beaufort Elementary Preschool10
Karen’s Day Care1
Lenka’s Family Child Care Home1
Little Gems Daycare Center3
Atlantic Elementary School Pre-K6
Bogue Sound Elementary School Pre-K3
Carteret Preschool Center9
White Oak Elementary School2

What the record doesn’t say

  • North Carolina doesn’t show a visit summary tied to an open child maltreatment investigation while the case is active, and shows an administrative action only after its 30-day appeal period, without saying what it was.
  • DCDEE’s descriptions of violations are shown in its own words; a description that names or may name a person isn’t shown. Visit summaries, the consultants’ full reports, aren’t read.
  • North Carolina’s page lists the provider’s own features (transport, ratios) as furnished by the provider and unverified by DCDEE, so they aren’t shown.

Sources

If you believe something here is wrong, a correction starts with the agency whose record this copies: North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE). North Carolina’s own record is on ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov. If Hearth Record copied something wrongly, it will fix it and log the correction publicly, with its date: how corrections work.

Source:

This copy of the record was made on Nov 3, 2026.

From the provider

The public record above comes first. Anything the provider adds will appear here, below it, and say who wrote it.

Replies

None. Replies aren’t open yet. When they open, the provider will be able to answer any finding for free, and the reply will show beside that finding, unedited and dated.

Paid listing

None. Paid listings aren’t open yet. When they open, anything paid for will say “Paid by the provider”, and paying will never change a finding, a rating or the order of results.

How to read a record

Four things every record does, shown on an example record made up for this guide.

An example record, made up for this guide

An example nursing home

Made up for this guide: no real place is shown

Not fully inspected in over two years (CMS flag)

11 health citations at the latest inspection cycle

The state average is 14.3.

Source:

CMS, State and US Averages and Health Deficiencies. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated monthly.

From the homeNone yet. Replies and paid listings aren’t open, and when they open they will sit here, below the record.

1 of 4

Every fact names its source.

Who published it, when, and how often it changes sit beside each fact, with a link to the agency’s own file.

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