Gifted Stars Early Learning Academy Durham/Chapel Hill Campus

Update: The former statement was a number of months ago. Since this review the quality of this half-day program has decreased likely due to chronic lack of staffing/ turnover, poor expectations/ standards from management and poor communication/ transparency regarding billing and safety of children at the facility. I will be removing my child from the facility as I cannot feel comfortable that she will be safe and in a learning environment that would be beneficial for her and the short or long-term. I'm not bitter about the experience, but I would not recommend this facility to a family member, co-worker or friend with children of age as it stands. **Original post***Reasonable cost for a half day program, staff is kind and responsive and I like that they take pictures and videos of the kids throughout the day!**

As parents whose children currently attend Gifted Stars Early Learning Academy, we couldn’t be happier with our choice. The staff’s care and dedication make it feel like a second home for our family. The engaging curriculum fosters our kids’ growth in all areas, and the open communication with teachers keeps us involved and informed. We highly recommend Gifted Stars to other families seeking a nurturing and enriching environment for their children.

Disappointing Experience at Gifted stars early learning academy. Our time at Gifted stars early learning academy was marked by numerous unsettling incidents that left us deeply dissatisfied with the quality of care provided. Despite initially hoping for a nurturing environment for our child, our experience fell far short of expectations. One of the most troubling aspects of our experience was the lack of professionalism exhibited by some members of the teaching staff. Specifically, we were shocked when a teacher publicly accused me of sneaking out and leaving my child sick, and attempted to silence me by raising her voice in front of other parents and children. This behavior was not only unacceptable but also deeply distressing for both me and my child. After expressing our concerns to the owner, we had hoped for a more empathetic and understanding approach from the staff. However, on the second day, our expectations were shattered when our 2-year-old child was denied the comfort of her toy from home, which she relied on for calmness and security after a stressful day. This lack of empathy and consideration for our child's emotional well-being was deeply concerning and left us with no choice but to bring her back home. Seeking hope and fair treatment for the third time only reinforced the belief that respectful behavior toward me and my child was unlikely. As we inquired about our child's attendance once again, the teacher's escalating voice in front of the entire class instilled fear and unease in all present. Despite my attempts to calm the situation, the teacher proceeded to dismiss us and return to the class, leaving my child behind. This neglect was the final straw, and we could no longer bear such treatment. In an effort to shield my child from feelings of rejection and a lack of welcome at the preschool, I opted to purchase open play access to the gym. However, during this time, I witnessed a shocking incident where the teachers and preschool's owner convened a meeting in the classroom with the door closed, leaving all the children unsupervised in the gym area. Leaving children unattended, even for a brief period, is unacceptable and places them at risk of harm. As a witness to this incident, I am deeply concerned about the safety protocols and practices in place at Gifted Stars Early Learning Academy. It is imperative that the staff prioritize the safety and well-being of the children at all times. Furthermore, it is disheartening that my report about this incident appears to have resulted in a restriction being placed on my access to the We Rock the Spectrum gym. This restriction seems to be a response to my efforts to ensure all children safety, further highlighting the lack of accountability and transparency within the institution. Perhaps most troubling was the unfair and dismissive behavior displayed by the owner when addressing our grievances. Despite our attempts to address challenges constructively, our concerns were met with indifference and a lack of accountability, leaving us feeling unheard and unsupported. The decision by the owner to unilaterally return all of our child's belongings and cite a 30-day early notice policy for a refund was shocking and unacceptable. In conclusion, our experience at Gifted stars early learning academy was deeply disappointing due to issues surrounding teacher professionalism, safety concerns, lack of empathy, and the owner's dismissive attitude. We sincerely hope that these issues are addressed promptly to ensure the well-being and happiness of all children enrolled in the preschool.

My daughter (2 years old) was in the parking lot of the daycare alone with three other children and the owners or workers didn’t even notify me. I was informed by a worker from the daycare next door. This place is dangerous and has several code violations according to The Division of Child Development and Early Education. Just to mention a few of the violations: 1.) There is not a fence for the playground and in the back of the building is a small wooded area, very unsafe. 2.) The food that is fed to the children is cheap prepackaged food nothing fresh. The food quality does not meet even the poorest of standards. 3.) Ever since the last set of staff quit there has not been any lesson plan for the children, it is basically free play. We used to get multiple updates throughout the day. They don't even document the diaper changes which leads me to believe they are not being done until right before pick-up. 3.) The daycare is severely understaffed and has a high turnover. To my knowledge, only two people are working currently. And the staff working loosely watch the children. This place was great when we first started. My daughter has been here almost a year and it keeps getting worse and worse. I believe the source is due to high turnover and the absence of ownership. This place is strictly a money grab for the owner because she sure does not care about the children. It is not licensed by the state because it does not meet the criteria set by the state. So beware Also the facility is closed about 25% more than the average daycare facility and the owner offers no prorated rate. 4/18-4/24 closed spring break 4/25 closed because 2 out of the 3 teachers quit so staffing issue. Parents were informed 4/24. 5/24 closed for staff cpr training which was done on a whim because a previous staff member called the business out in the reviews for not having their employees certified. 5/27 closed for Memorial Day (normal) 6/19 closed for Juneteenth (normal) 6/25 closed for disinfecting and cleaning (which should be done every day). There was an extremely high number of illnesses this week. Parents notified 6/24 at 5:08pm 7/1-7/9 closed for summer break (majority of programs were back in session Monday 7/8. If you are comparing this place to other half-day programs in the area this place should be at the bottom of your list. It's more expensive than other half-day programs in the area. For example a very established program with great reviews from parents Duke Memorial weekday school is $380 a week for 2-year-olds. Gifted stars is currently charging $560 a month (as of 7/10/24) and your child receives so much less. There are random fees without explanation and if they make a billing mistake it is nearly impossible to correct the situation. I was advised by other parents that have stopped attending that they were still charged and never received a refund only a run around. Even after giving a 1-month notice. The owner has a few locations and they are all unorganized, understaffed and not licensed (just look at the reviews and filter out the ones from the current employees and owner). People are using the half-day loophole to avoid regulations for childcare and take advantage of parents in need of affordable childcare. Not all are bad but this is one to avoid.

When my grandson comes home from school he’s excited to share his day. The school has provided him with great educational programs and resources. It has been a pleasure to see him excel. I am pleased with his progress he has made progress in so many areas. This school is a great fit for my family and working with the owner was a pleasure.