Parents who work at Duke University and Health System have greater access to quality child care through the Duke Child Care Partnership. This program was originally developed between Duke and Child Care Services Association (CCSA) to address the shortage of high quality child care in our community in a manner which benefits both Duke families and the broader community. Since its inception, hundreds of Duke families currently have a child enrolled at a participating center.
Today, Duke Partnership Centers offer priority placement to Duke faculty, staff and students, in exchange for membership in the partnership and listing on Duke's website. Partnership centers must maintain a four or five star license and be in good standing with the state of North Carolina and the Child Care Services Association. The DCCP does not partner with home day care centers or programs.
Duke Families - How to Apply?
Please contact the individual facilities to apply. If no vacancies are available, you will be notified when a space becomes available. You will have five days to accept the space before it is offered to the next Duke family on the waiting list.
Primrose School of Cary - DUKE OPEN HOUSE
Duke staff/faculty are cordially invited to attend Primrose School of Cary Open House scheduled for Monday, September 21, 2026 from 6pm -7pm. Click here for more details.
Parents may contact the Child Care Services Association for additional information and assistance in finding quality child care in the local area.
Map of Duke Child Care Partnership Centers
State Quality Standards & Center Compliance
All child care programs listed here within the DCCP are regulated by the Division of Child Development of the State of North Carolina. Child care is rated by stars, with 5 stars indicating the highest of quality. To be a part of the Duke Child Care Partnership, centers must maintain a minimum of four stars. Staff and Family Programs runs a weekly quality check on all DCCP centers to ensure the star rating is maintained.
Please send us your feedback at Staff-Family-Programs@duke.edu.
Disclaimer
Although Duke Human Resources partners with the child care centers listed on our website to support Duke staff and faculty in meeting their child care needs, availability cannot be guaranteed. At times, centers may be at capacity or may not have openings that align with your specific needs. In such cases, participating centers will typically offer to place you on a waitlist and will contact you if a suitable opening becomes available.
We encourage you to explore additional child care options and learn more about North Carolina’s Star Rated License system by visiting www.ncchildcare.net. Also look for centers accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), which signifies adherence to higher standards of quality care.
Please note that Duke does not endorse or recommend any individual participating centers.