Daycare RecordChild care inspection records

Esperanza Heights

429 Heights Blvd, Houston, TX 77007 · Harris County

Esperanza Heights is a licensed child care center in Houston, TX, licensed for up to 86 children and serving toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children. It has held its Texas license since 2002. Since October 2021, state inspectors have visited 8 times. Inspectors recorded 22 citations, 1 of them high-risk, most often for training & qualifications (7 of 22). 1 citation came in the last 12 months. Measured by risk-weighted citations per inspection, it is tied for #765 of 882 centers in Houston and better than 3% of licensed centers statewide.

Inspection record

Better than 3%of 9,147 Texas licensed centers, comparing risk-weighted citations per inspection. Among the most cited
Tied for #765 of 882 centers in Houston
1High risk
12Medium High risk
7Medium risk
1Medium Low risk
1Low risk
22 citations from 8 inspections and 0 reports since Oct 1, 2021 · 1 in the last 12 months · last inspected Sep 14, 2026

Every state visit

20222023202420252026INSPECTIONS (top) · REPORTS & INVESTIGATIONS (bottom)Sep 14, 2026 · Inspection · citation foundNov 14, 2025 · Inspection · no citationSep 17, 2025 · Inspection · citation foundSep 19, 2024 · Inspection · citation foundJan 24, 2024 · Assessment · citation foundSep 25, 2023 · Inspection · citation foundOct 3, 2022 · Inspection · citation foundOct 21, 2021 · Inspection · no citationOct 5, 2021 · Inspection · citation found
Citation foundNo citation

What inspectors cited most

Training & qualifications7
Building & playground safety5
Records & paperwork4
Staff ratios2
Other standards1
Health & medication1
Food & feeding1
Supervision1

Citations, newest first

Medium HighSep 14, 2026InspectionRecords & paperwork
Required Admission Information - Emergency Contact §746.605(6)
During the review of children's records 2 out of the 8 records evaluated did not have all of the required emergency contact information.
Medium HighSep 17, 2025InspectionOther standards
Safety - Air Conditioners, Fans, Heaters Safeguarded §746.3701(3)
CCR observed floor fans in the school-age classroom and on the outside playground that are accessible to the children.
Correction verified Nov 14, 2025
MediumSep 17, 2025InspectionTraining & qualifications
Required Personnel Records -Training Hours §746.901(6)
Three staff files were reviewed, and the water safety training certificate was missing from each of file.
Correction verified Nov 14, 2025
LowSep 17, 2025InspectionTraining & qualifications
Documentation of Training Requirements - Trainer's Qualifications §746.1329(b)(5)
CCR observed a training certificate that did not include all of the requirements, such as the trainer's qualifications.
Correction verified Sep 29, 2025
MediumSep 17, 2025InspectionTraining & qualifications
Documented annual training - Specific to water safety §746.1325(b)
CCR reviewed the operation Summer Safety training PowerPoint and found it does not meet the specific training requirements for water safety in and around swimming pools.
Correction verified Nov 14, 2025
Medium HighSep 17, 2025InspectionBuilding & playground safety
Required Admission Information - Water Activity Permission §746.605(16)
Four children's admission forms were evaluated and were missing the question about whether the child can swim and if they have a swim life jacket.
Correction verified Sep 29, 2025
MediumSep 17, 2025InspectionStaff ratios
Background Check Validation - Every 3 months each operation, other than a licensed, registered, or listed home, must validate current list §745.651(2)(A)
The operation have not validated the people since 02/24/2025.
Correction verified Sep 18, 2025
MediumSep 19, 2024InspectionTraining & qualifications
Documented Annual Training- Required Content §746.1309(e)
2 out of 4 caregivers were missing the following annual training topics: * Emergency preparedness * Preventing and controlling the spread of communicable diseases, *Administering medication, *Handling, storing, and disposing of hazardous materials *Preventing and responding to emergencies due to food or an allergic reaction * Understanding building and physical premises safety, * Prevention, recognition, and reporting of child maltreatment.
Correction verified Oct 23, 2024
Medium HighSep 19, 2024InspectionBuilding & playground safety
Fire Drill Monthly - Exit in 3 Minutes §746.5205(1)
The operation has not conducted a fire drill since May/2024.
Correction verified Oct 25, 2024
MediumSep 19, 2024InspectionTraining & qualifications
Director Annual Training - Additional required topics §746.1311(e)
The director is missing the required annual training topics: * Emergency preparedness * Preventing and controlling the spread of communicable diseases, *Administering medication, *Handling, storing, and disposing of hazardous materials *Preventing and responding to emergencies due to food or an allergic reaction * Understanding building and physical premises safety, * Prevention, recognition, and reporting of child maltreatment.
Correction verified Oct 23, 2024
Medium LowJan 24, 2024InspectionRecords & paperwork
Report Number of Employees §746.303(b)
A review of the Employees Who Left Employment in 2023 data from January 17, 2024, revealed that the center had not reported the number of employees who left employment in 2023 by January 15, 2024, as required.
Correction verified Jan 30, 2024
Medium HighSep 25, 2023InspectionHealth & medication
Safety - Televisions Anchored to Prevent Tip Over §746.3701(10)
A television in the stem room was not anchored down.
Correction verified Sep 28, 2023
Medium HighSep 25, 2023InspectionFood & feeding
Food Allergy Emergency Plan Signed by Parents and Health Care Professional §746.3819
Two children with an food allergy did not have a food allergy plan on file.
Correction verified Nov 3, 2023
Medium HighSep 25, 2023InspectionStaff ratios
Annual Sanitation Inspection- Inspection unavailable must maintain documentation at operation and make available to us §746.3401(c)(2)
The operation did not have any documentation on not having to have a sanitation inspection.
Correction verified Dec 14, 2023
Medium HighSep 25, 2023InspectionRecords & paperwork
Required Admission Information - Emergency Contact §746.605(6)
One child is missing information for their emergency contact person.
Correction verified Oct 30, 2023
Medium HighSep 25, 2023InspectionBuilding & playground safety
Emergency Preparedness Plan - Evacuation, relocation, and sheltering/lock-down procedures §746.5202(1)
The operation did not have their emergency preparedness plan available for viewing.
Correction verified Sep 28, 2023
Medium HighOct 3, 2022InspectionRecords & paperwork
Required Admission Information - Emergency Contact §746.605(6)
The eight children's files that were reviewed did not have an address for the emergency contact.
Correction verified Oct 6, 2022
MediumOct 3, 2022InspectionTraining & qualifications
Director Annual Training 30 Hours Required §746.1311(a)
The director is missing 15 hours of annual training for training year 6/8/2021 to 6/8/2022.
Correction verified Oct 20, 2022
MediumOct 3, 2022InspectionTraining & qualifications
Documented Annual Training Area - 24 Hours Required §746.1309(a)
One caregiver is missing 15 hours of training for training year 5/21/2021 to 5/21/2022. The other caregiver is missing 14 hours of training for training year 7/20/2021 to 7/20/2022.
Correction verified Oct 20, 2022
Medium HighOct 5, 2021InspectionBuilding & playground safety
Maintenance of Building, Grounds and Equipment §746.3407
During the walkthrough I observed play equipment that had visible dirt and tree debris. I observed buckets containing water with bugs in the water.
Correction verified Oct 21, 2021
HighOct 5, 2021InspectionSupervision
Responsibilities of Caregivers- Supervision of Children §746.1203(4)
During the inspection a caregiver left two toddlers ages 22 months and 18 months unsupervised in the classroom to open the front door.
Correction verified Oct 21, 2021
Medium HighOct 5, 2021InspectionBuilding & playground safety
Toys and Equipment to be Sanitized Set Aside §746.3407(1)
During the walkthrough I observed a caregiver wipe a toy that was placed in a child's mouth with a plain water paper towel and place back in the play center.
Correction verified Oct 21, 2021

About this center

Licensed capacity86 children
Ages servedToddler, Pre-Kindergarten, School
Hours07:30 AM-06:00 PM
DaysMon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri
Licensed sinceOct 29, 2002
DirectorZara De La Cerda
Phone7138682200
State operation #816646

Common questions

Does Esperanza Heights take infants?

No. Its Texas license covers toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children, not infants.

What are Esperanza Heights’s hours?

7:30 AM to 6 PM, Monday through Friday, according to its state licensing record. Confirm holiday and summer hours with the center.

Does Esperanza Heights accept child care subsidies?

Not according to its state licensing record. Ask the center directly, since participation can change.

How much does Esperanza Heights cost?

Texas does not publish individual centers’ prices, so ask Esperanza Heights for its current tuition. For comparison, the median full-day price at licensed centers in the Gulf Coast area, which includes Houston, is $40.80 a day for toddlers, $39.40 a day for 3-year-olds and $37.20 a day for school-age children (2025 Texas Child Care Market Rate Survey).

Has Esperanza Heights had any serious violations?

Inspectors recorded 1 high-risk citation since 2021. The most recent was on Oct 5, 2021: “Responsibilities of Caregivers- Supervision of Children.” Each one is listed in full above.

How does Esperanza Heights compare with other daycares in Houston?

It is tied for #765 of 882 centers in Houston by risk-weighted citations per inspection, and is better than 3% of licensed centers statewide (out of 9,147 Texas centers with enough inspection history).

When was Esperanza Heights last inspected?

Sep 14, 2026. Inspectors cited at least one rule during that visit.

Licensed centers nearby

Citations are quoted from Texas HHS inspection records. Many are corrected the same day, and a citation is a finding about one rule, not a judgment about a center overall.

To see the official record, search operation 816646 on Search Texas Child Care. Data refreshed Sep 30, 2026.