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St. Stephen's Lutheran Preschool

2304 Springs Road, Hickory, NC 28601
capacity
58
a week, county median
$109
Call (828) 256-2166WebsiteDirections

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Not a child care licenseInspection record

About

About St. Stephen's Lutheran Preschool

St. Stephen's Lutheran Preschool is a child care center in Hickory, North Carolina. It is state-listed, for up to 58 children, serving preschoolers and school-age children.

The North Carolina Division of Child Development and Early Education made 6 visits in the last 3 years and cited 8 rules across 2 of them. The visit list, in the state's words, is below.

School-ageFaith-basedAccepts child care subsidy

Ages served: preschoolers and school-age children

From the state license
Ask when you call: rates, current openings, staff-to-child ratio, teacher qualifications and hours.
Type
Child care center
Ages
Preschoolers and school-age children
Hours today
Not listed
Capacity
58 children

Hours

Hours

Hours not listed. Call (828) 256-2166 to confirm.
Call to confirm

Programs

Programs and care

AgesPreschoolers and school-age childrenFrom the state license
Child care subsidyAccepts state child care subsidiesFrom the state license
Capacity58 childrenFrom the state license

Cost

Tuition and costs

St. Stephen's Lutheran Preschool has not listed its tuition. For comparison, full-time preschool care at a child care center in Catawba County has a median price of $109 a week (U.S. Department of Labor, 2022).

Ask the daycare for its ratesIt has not listed its tuition. The county medians below are a starting point.
Catawba County medians, full time, per week

Infant

Center$183
Home daycare$172

Toddler

Center$142
Home daycare$136

Preschool

Center$109
Home daycare$133

School age

Center$110
Home daycare$210

County median full-time prices at centers and home daycares, U.S. Department of Labor, National Database of Childcare Prices, 2022 (the latest year). Not this daycare's rates; prices have risen since.

State record

Inspection reports for St. Stephen's Lutheran Preschool

License

Status
Operating; not a child care license
License type
Religious-sponsored program, notice of compliance under G.S. 110-106 (GS 110-106; not a child care license)
Capacity
58 children
Ages
Preschoolers and school-age children
License number
#18000037
See the state's record

Summary

6 visits in the last 3 years · Last visit Apr 14, 2026: 5 rules cited

Rules cited on 2 of 6 visits · 8 rules in all · 8 corrected

  • Staff training and qualifications 3
  • Records and paperwork 2
  • Building, equipment and play areas 1
  • Background checks 1
  • Health, medication and illness 1

For comparison: 92% of North Carolina daycares had at least one rule cited in the last 3 years; the typical daycare had 8.

A cited rule is what an inspector found on the day of a visit. It is not a rating of the daycare today.

Own this daycare? Add your response to the state record

See all 6 visits
  1. Apr 14, 2026Inspection5 rules cited
    • Records and paperwork

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

      The state verified the correction on Apr 27, 2026

    • Records and paperwork

      A child care operator did not notify the Division of any new child care providers, as defined in G.S. 110-90.2(a)(2), who were hired or moved into the child care facility within five business days.

      The state verified the correction on Apr 27, 2026

    • Staff training and qualifications

      All staff did not successfully complete certification in CPR training appropriate to the age of the children in care. Verification of staff completion of the CPR course from an approved training organization was not in the staff file.

      The state verified the correction on Apr 27, 2026

    • Staff training and qualifications

      All staff did not successfully complete certification in First Aid appropriate to the age of children in care. Verification of staff completion of First Aid training from an approved training organization was not in the staff file.

      The state verified the correction on Apr 27, 2026

    • Building, equipment and play areas

      All equipment and furnishings were not in good repair.

      The state verified the correction on Apr 27, 2026

  2. Jul 29, 2025InspectionNo rules cited
  3. May 20, 2025InspectionNo rules cited
  4. Jan 8, 2025InspectionNo rules cited
  5. Jun 11, 2024InspectionNo rules cited
  6. Jan 30, 2024Inspection3 rules cited
    • Staff training and qualifications

      The child care administrator and all staff did not complete the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days of employment.

      Corrected during the visit

    • Background checks

      Prior to employment a Criminal Background Check was not completed.

      The state verified the correction on Jan 31, 2024

    • Health, medication and illness

      Parent's medication authorization did not include required information.

      The state verified the correction on Jan 31, 2024

Copied from the North Carolina Division of Child Development and Early Education on October 4, 2026; the state's records start around Oct 2023. Rule wording, severity and dates are the state's.

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FAQ

Questions about St. Stephen's Lutheran Preschool

Is St. Stephen's Lutheran Preschool licensed?

No. The North Carolina Division of Child Development and Early Education lists it, but its program type is not a child care license in North Carolina.

When was St. Stephen's Lutheran Preschool last inspected?

The North Carolina Division of Child Development and Early Education lists the most recent visit on April 14, 2026, with 5 rules cited. It lists 6 visits in the last 3 years.

Has St. Stephen's Lutheran Preschool had rules cited by the state?

Yes. Inspectors cited 8 rules across 2 of 6 visits in the last 3 years; 8 show a correction in the state record. For comparison: 92% of North Carolina daycares had at least one rule cited in the last 3 years; the typical daycare had 8. A cited rule is what an inspector found on the day of a visit. It is not a rating of the daycare today.

How many children can St. Stephen's Lutheran Preschool care for?

58, the licensed capacity on the state record. It is licensed to serve preschoolers and school-age children.

Does St. Stephen's Lutheran Preschool accept child care subsidies?

Yes. The state record says it accepts child care subsidies.

What are St. Stephen's Lutheran Preschool's hours?

Its hours are not listed. Call (828) 256-2166 to confirm.

How much does St. Stephen's Lutheran Preschool cost?

It has not listed its tuition. Call (828) 256-2166 to ask.

What is St. Stephen's Lutheran Preschool's phone number?

(828) 256-2166.

Where is St. Stephen's Lutheran Preschool?

2304 Springs Road, Hickory, NC 28601. The nearest other daycare we list is Little Stars Child Development Center, 0.5 miles away.

Sources: The North Carolina Division of Child Development and Early Education (license and visits) · U.S. Department of Labor, 2022 (county prices).