Hearth Record

Apples of Gold Too

A child care center in Shelby, North Carolina 28152

1633 South Post Road, Shelby, North Carolina 28152. (704) 481-9265.

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 9 violations in 4 months of the last 36. Last cited Apr 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?

7 DCDEE visits in the last three years, the latest on Apr 21, 2026.

9 violations cited in the last three years, 9 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

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

9 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.

Apr 21, 2026: unannounced5 violations
  • 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 the unlocked kitchen with the door opened, on the counter with the sink, was one bottle of Cerama Bryte Glass Ceramic Stovetop Cleaner.”

    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.

  • Before children were transported, written permission from a parent was not obtained that included when and where the child was to be transported, expected time of departure and arrival, and the transportation provider.

    “One child enrolled on August 20, 2024, did not have available for review an updated travel authorization form. The previous travel authorization form expired on December 31, 2025.”

    Rule Before children were transported, written permission from a parent was not obtained that included when and where the child was to be transported, expected time of departure and arrival, and the transportation provider.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Apr 22, 2026. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

  • Electrical outlets and power strips, not in use, which were located in space used by children did not have safety outlets or were not covered with safety plugs unless located behind furniture or equipment that cannot be moved by a child.

    “In Space 2B, the classroom is used as a lunchroom for Space #1. The one outlet on the wall and under the window was missing a plug.”

    Rule Electrical outlets and power strips, not in use, which were located in space used by children did not have safety outlets or were not covered with safety plugs unless located behind furniture or equipment that cannot be moved by a child.. Corrected during the inspection.

  • Emergency and identifying information, including the child’s name, photograph, emergency contact information and/or a copy of the emergency medical care information form was not in the vehicle for each child being transported.

    “Identifying information, such as photographs, for three school-age were not documented in their emergency information file used for transportation. This information was not available for review. One child was enrolled on July 15, 2025, and two children were enrolled on September 2, 2025.”

    Rule Emergency and identifying information, including the child's name, photograph, emergency contact information and/or a copy of the emergency medical care information form was not in the vehicle for each child being transported.. Corrected during the inspection.

  • Plastic bags, materials that could be torn apart and toy parts small enough to be swallowed were accessible to children under three years of age.

    The inspectors’ words, 99 words

    “In Space #1, the classroom used by children two years of age, I observed in the children’s cubbies were three plastic containers of Members Mark baby wipe containers and one container of Parent’s Choice baby wipe container. In the bathroom, where diaper changing of children occurs, one package of Members Mark baby wipes and one package of Parent’s Choice baby wipes were located on the middle and bottom shelf of the changing table. These disposable plastic baby wipe containers were accessible to children two years of age and had a written warning keep out of reach of young children.”

    Rule Plastic bags, materials that could be torn apart and toy parts small enough to be swallowed were accessible to children under three years of age.. Corrected during the inspection.

Jul 17, 2025: unannounced2 violations
  • Application did not include health care needs or concerns, symptoms of and the type of response required for the health care needs or concerns.

    “One child enrolled on February 20, 2023, did not have documentation on file available for review of the required information of their health care needs section of their application. This information was left blank.”

    Rule Application did not include health care needs or concerns, symptoms of and the type of response required for the health care needs or concerns.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Jul 21, 2025. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

  • Incident reports were not completed each time a child was injured, it did not include all the information required in rule, it was not signed by the parent and/or it was not maintained in the child’s file.

    The inspectors’ words, 202 words

    “In Space #2a, one child five years of age enrolled on September 22, 2022, did not have available for review of all the required information documented on incident reports dated July 19, 2025. The missing information included the type of medical treatment received, witnesses and cause of injury. In Space #2a, one child five years of age enrolled on July 14, 2024, did not have available for review of all the required information documented on incident reports dated July 7, 2025. The missing information included the witness of the incident. In Space #2a, one child five years of age enrolled on February 20, 2023, did not have available for review of all the required information documented on incident reports dated June 9, 2025. The missing information included the type of injury, the type of medical treatment received, location of the incident, witness, and cause of injury. In Space #2a, one child five years of age enrolled on September 8, 2020, did not have available for review of all the required information documented on incident reports dated June 11, 2025. The missing information included the type of injury, the type of medical treatment received, location of the incident, witness, and cause of injury.”

    Rule Incident reports were not completed each time a child was injured, it did not include all the information required in rule, it was not signed by the parent and/or it was not maintained in the child's file.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Jul 21, 2025. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Jul 29, 2024: unannounced1 violation
  • Electrical outlets and power strips, not in use, which were located in space used by children did not have safety outlets or were not covered with safety plugs unless located behind furniture or equipment that cannot be moved by a child.

    “In Space #2a, three different electrical outlets located in the block center area, books/cozy area, and on the wall near the exit door did not have outlet safety covers in each of the outlets plugs. These areas were accessible to children.”

    Rule Electrical outlets and power strips, not in use, which were located in space used by children did not have safety outlets or were not covered with safety plugs unless located behind furniture or equipment that cannot be moved by a child.. Corrected during the inspection.

Jan 25, 2024: unannounced1 violation
  • Shelter-in-place or lockdown drills were not practiced every three months and/or drill record was incomplete.

    “The documentation available for review recorded a shelter in place drill was completed and on January 4, 2024, at 11:15am and another shelter in place drill was completed and recorded on September 9, 2023, at 11:00am. The time span between the two emergency drills was four months.”

    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: Jan 30, 2024. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

All 7 visits on record
Visits on record
DateVisitWhat the record says
Apr 21, 2026Unannounced visit5 violations cited
Jan 16, 2026Announced visitNo violations cited
Jul 17, 2025Unannounced visit2 violations cited
Jan 29, 2025Unannounced visitNo violations cited
Aug 22, 2024Unannounced visitNo violations cited
Jul 29, 2024Unannounced visit1 violation cited
Jan 25, 2024Unannounced visit1 violation cited

Is it licensed?

  • Child Care Center, holding a Five Star Center License since Apr 22, 2026.
  • Licensed for 28 children, ages 0 through 12.
  • Enrolled in North Carolina’s subsidized child care program.
  • North Carolina’s licence number: 23000307.
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 taken no action against this facility, for its current licence and location, in the last three years.
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: Apples of Gold South Inc..
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 57 child care providers in Cleveland County, the middle value for violations cited in the last three years was 5; this one had 9.
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.

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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