Child Care Centers, Family Child Care & Preschools in Rutherford County

Rutherford County, North Carolina is home to 22 state-licensed care providers across 6 cities. Use the care-type sections below to compare licensing records, inspections, staff-to-child ratios, and program details.

Browse the North Carolina directory or jump to a city:

Alexander Mills, NC 1 providers Bostic, NC 2 providers Ellenboro, NC 4 providers Forest City, NC 14 providers Rutherfordton, NC 6 providers Spindale, NC 6 providers

Child Care Centers in Rutherford County

12 providers in Rutherford County: Forest City, Spindale, Ellenboro, Rutherfordton

Child Care Center Alexander Baptist Day Care Center Forest City, NC 28043 Capacity 75 Child Care Center Children's Development Academy, INC. Forest City, NC 28043 Capacity 45 Child Care Center Choice Care Discovery Spindale, NC 28160 Capacity 147 Child Care Center Choice Care Quest Forest City, NC 28043 Capacity 55 Child Care Center Kids At Play Childcare Center, LLC. Ellenboro, NC 28040 Capacity 36 Child Care Center Little Red School Forest City, NC 28043 Capacity 84 Child Care Center Pinnacle Elementary More At Four Program Rutherfordton, NC 28139 Capacity 20 Child Care Center Rise and Shine Academy Inc. Ellenboro, NC 28040 Capacity 45 Child Care Center Successful Start Child Development Center Forest City, NC 28043 Capacity 60 Child Care Center The Learning Tree Forest City, NC 28043 Capacity 130 Child Care Center U And I Child Care Center Spindale, NC 28160 Capacity 90 Child Care Center WNCSource Forest City Children's Center Forest City, NC 28043 Capacity 40

Family Child Care Homes in Rutherford County

2 providers in Rutherford County: Rutherfordton, Forest City

Family Child Care Home Ms. Bridget's Bright Beginnings, LLC Rutherfordton, NC 28139 Capacity 10 Family Child Care Home Tiny Tots Day Care Forest City, NC 28043 Capacity 24

Preschools in Rutherford County

8 providers in Rutherford County: Ellenboro, Forest City, Rutherfordton, Spindale, Bostic

Preschool Ellenboro Elementary Preschool Ellenboro, NC 28040 Capacity 84 Preschool Forest City-Dunbar Preschool Forest City, NC 28043 Capacity 40 Preschool Forrest Hunt Preschool Forest City, NC 28043 Capacity 36 Preschool Harris Elementary Preschool Forest City, NC 28043 Capacity 36 Preschool Rutherfordton Elementary Preschool Rutherfordton, NC 28139 Capacity 36 Preschool Spindale Elementary Preschool Spindale, NC 28160 Capacity 36 Preschool Sunshine Elementary Preschool Bostic, NC 28018 Capacity 20 Preschool Trinity Preschool Rutherfordton, NC 28139 Capacity 99

Head Start Programs in Rutherford County

11 providers in Rutherford County: Spindale, Ellenboro, Forest City, Alexander Mills, Rutherfordton, Bostic

Head Start Program Carver Spindale, NC 28160 Capacity 71 Head Start Program Carver Head Start Spindale, NC 28160 Capacity 182 Head Start Program Ellenboro Ellenboro, NC 28040 Capacity 26 Head Start Program Forest City Children's Center Forest City, NC 28043 Capacity 29 Head Start Program Forest City Dunbar Elementary Forest City, NC 28043 Capacity 26 Head Start Program Forrest W. Hunt Elementary Alexander Mills, NC 28043 Capacity 17 Head Start Program Harris Elementary Forest City, NC 28043 Capacity 24 Head Start Program Pinnacle Elementary Rutherfordton, NC 28139 Capacity 14 Head Start Program Rutherfordton Elementary School Rutherfordton, NC 28139 Capacity 13 Head Start Program Spindale Elem. Spindale, NC 28160 Capacity 10 Head Start Program Sunshine Elementary Bostic, NC 28018 Capacity 9

Choosing care in Rutherford County

The strongest comparisons weigh several signals together - licensing record, ratios and group sizes, caregiver experience, and the particular hours and services a family needs. No single measure captures all of that, and nothing replaces a visit.

Where you can, visit each option in Rutherford County, watch how caregivers interact with children, ask how daily updates and pickups are handled, and get costs and schedules confirmed in writing. Steady, engaged caregivers count for as much as any published record.

Frequently asked questions

How many state-licensed care providers does Rutherford County have?

According to current licensing data, Rutherford County, North Carolina has 22 licensed providers: 12 child care centers, 2 family child care homes, and 8 preschools.

Which cities in Rutherford County have care providers?

Based on the current data, Alexander Mills, Bostic, Ellenboro, Forest City, Rutherfordton and others have care providers listed. Open a city page for local listings.

Data sources

Data source: ChildCare.gov state licensing resources, the state licensing agency data, and Head Start Service Locations (HHS/ACF). Data as of 2026-10-07. This page is informational and is not professional advice.

Required disclosures

For general information only. This website shares public data and general information about child care providers. It does not offer professional advice, and it cannot replace a visit to a provider, a review of public licensing records, or a conversation with the people you trust.

Independent and unaffiliated. DaycareFacilities.org is a private, independently run directory. It is not affiliated with, nor endorsed or operated by, any government agency, child care licensing authority, or child care provider. Government agencies have not reviewed or endorsed this site.

Confirm details before acting. Provider records come from public datasets and may lag or contain errors. Always verify current licensing status, hours, availability, capacity, and costs directly with the provider and with your state or territory licensing agency.

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