Daycare RecordChild care inspection records

New Horizons Learning Academy

5253 N 23rd St, McAllen, TX 78504 · Hidalgo County
1 high-risk citation in last 12 monthsAccepts child care subsidies

New Horizons Learning Academy is a licensed child care center in McAllen, TX, licensed for up to 66 children and serving infants through school-age children. It has held its Texas license since 2020. Since October 2021, state inspectors have visited 19 times and investigated 6 reports. Inspectors recorded 25 citations, 5 of them high-risk, most often for building & playground safety (6 of 25). 3 citations came in the last 12 months, including 1 high-risk. 4% were corrected during the inspection itself. Measured by risk-weighted citations per inspection, it is tied for #36 of 55 centers in McAllen and better than 21% of licensed centers statewide.

Inspection record

Better than 21%of 9,147 Texas licensed centers, comparing risk-weighted citations per inspection. More citations than most
Tied for #36 of 55 centers in McAllen
5High risk
12Medium High risk
8Medium risk
0Medium Low risk
0Low risk
25 citations from 19 inspections and 5 reports since Oct 1, 2021 · 3 in the last 12 months · last inspected Aug 13, 2026

Every state visit

20222023202420252026INSPECTIONS (top) · REPORTS & INVESTIGATIONS (bottom)Aug 13, 2026 · Inspection · no citationAug 4, 2026 · Inspection · citation foundJun 4, 2026 · Inspection · no citationJun 3, 2026 · Report/investigation · citation foundMar 30, 2026 · Inspection · citation foundFeb 10, 2026 · Inspection · no citationFeb 2, 2026 · Report/investigation · no citationOct 3, 2025 · Inspection · no citationMay 6, 2025 · Inspection · no citationApr 29, 2025 · Inspection · citation foundJun 17, 2024 · Inspection · no citationMay 31, 2024 · Inspection · citation foundMar 25, 2024 · Inspection · citation foundMar 13, 2024 · Report/investigation · no citationFeb 28, 2024 · Inspection · no citationFeb 20, 2024 · Inspection · citation foundFeb 16, 2024 · Report/investigation · citation foundJun 20, 2023 · Inspection · no citationJun 5, 2023 · Inspection · citation foundFeb 15, 2023 · Inspection · no citationFeb 6, 2023 · Inspection · citation foundFeb 3, 2023 · Report/investigation · no citationJun 16, 2022 · Inspection · citation foundMar 21, 2022 · Inspection · no citationMar 18, 2022 · Report/investigation · no citation
Citation foundNo citation

What inspectors cited most

Building & playground safety6
Records & paperwork5
Other standards4
Food & feeding2
Supervision2
Staff ratios2
Health & medication2
Sleep safety2

Citations, newest first

HighAug 4, 2026InspectionOther standards
AP Ensure total number of children both at & away from center within capacity §746.201(11)
The operation had 73 children in care at the operation, including 8 infants. The operations capacity is 66 due to limited outdoor space. *Children were picked up by parents/guardians and sent home during inspection*
Correction verified Aug 13, 2026
Medium HighJun 3, 2026Found during an investigationRecords & paperwork
Policies for Release of Children - Record Identity of Person §746.4103(b)
Based on evidence gathered during the course of the investigation, a child was released to an individual without the recording of identity.
Correction verified Jul 6, 2026
Medium HighMar 30, 2026InspectionBuilding & playground safety
Maintenance of Building, Grounds and Equipment §746.3407
Ceiling tiles throughout the facility were observed with water damage. Vents were also observed covered in dust and debris.
Correction verified Apr 10, 2026
MediumApr 29, 2025InspectionBuilding & playground safety
Written Activity Plan - Outdoor Play - Infant Birth to 12 Months §746.2206(1)(A)
Only one opportunity for outdoor play was observed.
Correction verified May 6, 2025
MediumApr 29, 2025InspectionFood & feeding
Required Records Maintained and Made Available - Infant Feeding Instructions §746.801(2)
Feeding instructions were not available for review for one infant.
Correction verified May 6, 2025
HighApr 29, 2025InspectionSupervision
Responsibilities of Caregivers - Know children responsible for §746.1205(a)(1)
A child was observed alone down a hallway in the restroom and was asking for assistance with no caregiver around.
Correction verified May 6, 2025
HighApr 29, 2025InspectionOther standards
Activities for Infants - Not in Restrictive Device for more than 15 Minutes §746.2417(2)(B)
Infants were observed in restrictive devices for over 15 minutes.
Correction verified May 6, 2025
MediumApr 29, 2025InspectionOther standards
Screen Time Activities - Not Used for Under Two §746.2207(a)
Infants ranging from 5 months to 12 months were observed watching t.v.
Correction verified May 6, 2025
MediumApr 29, 2025InspectionRecords & paperwork
Posting of Activity Plan §746.2209
Activity plans were not posted in 3 classrooms. Activity plans were posted in 2 classrooms with a date of October 2024.
Correction verified May 6, 2025
MediumApr 29, 2025InspectionRecords & paperwork
Daily Menus - May Rotate if Keep Record of Dates Menus Used §746.3313(2)
Menu was observed not being followed.
Correction verified May 6, 2025
MediumApr 29, 2025InspectionOther standards
Activities for Toddlers - Provide Thinking Skills and Sensory Development §746.2507(2)
Two classrooms were observed with not enough play equipment.
Correction verified May 6, 2025
Medium HighApr 29, 2025InspectionFood & feeding
Nutrition and Food Service - Drinking water available at every snack, mealtime, and during and after active play §746.3301(f)(1)
Water was not observed available during breakfast.
Correction verified May 6, 2025
MediumApr 29, 2025InspectionRecords & paperwork
Required Personnel Records §746.901
2 staff files were not available for review. 1 staff file was missing an affidavit and a preemployment affidavit.
Correction verified May 6, 2025
Medium HighApr 29, 2025InspectionStaff ratios
Child/Caregiver Ratio - 18 Months Difference in Age §746.1605(1)
Infants were combined with older children. The youngest child was 5 months while the oldest was 5 years old.
Correction verified May 6, 2025
Medium HighApr 29, 2025InspectionHealth & medication
Children Handwashing Before Eating §746.3417(1)
Handwashing was not observed before children ate breakfast.
Correction verified May 6, 2025
Medium HighMay 31, 2024InspectionSleep safety
Arrangement of Napping Equipment - Provides Access to Walkway §746.2909(4)
There was no space between the cots used by the children during nap time.
Correction verified Jun 17, 2024
Medium HighMar 25, 2024InspectionBuilding & playground safety
Safety - Electrical Outlets Covered §746.3701(1)
The electrical outlets did not have covers in a classroom used by children under the age of five years old. Corrected at Inspection: The covers were placed in the outlets.
Correction verified Mar 25, 2024
HighFeb 20, 2024InspectionSleep safety
Infant May Not Sleep in a Restrictive Device - Remove the infant from the device and place the infant in a crib as soon as possible §746.2426(a)(2)
There were two infants asleep in a restrictive device (car seat). The infants were covered with a blanket.
Correction verified Feb 28, 2024
Medium HighFeb 16, 2024Found during an investigationHealth & medication
AP Report Child Injury Requiring Medical Treatment by a Health-Care Professional or Hospitalization §746.305(a)(2)
The operation failed to notify CCR within the required timeframe about an injury to a child that required treatment by a health care professional.
Correction verified Mar 25, 2024
HighFeb 16, 2024Found during an investigationSupervision
Supervision ensures each child’s safety, well-being, including physical proximity and auditory or visual awareness of each child’s on going activity §746.1205(a)(4)
There were two infants unsupervised at the operation.
Correction verified Feb 28, 2024
Medium HighJun 5, 2023InspectionBuilding & playground safety
Maintenance of Building, Grounds and Equipment §746.3407
Two classrooms were observed with water stains on the ceiling tiles. There were staples on the carpet in a classroom. Note: The staples were removed from the carpet.
Correction verified Jun 20, 2023
Medium HighFeb 6, 2023InspectionStaff ratios
Child/ Caregiver Ratio - 13 or More Children §746.1601
There was one caregiver caring for 19 children. The specified age for the group was 3 years old which allows 15 to 1 caregiver. Note The ratios were left in compliance as an additional caregiver was put in the classroom.
Correction verified Feb 15, 2023
Medium HighFeb 6, 2023InspectionBuilding & playground safety
Floors, ceilings and Walls in Good Repair and Clean §746.3407(9)
Four ceiling tiles in the operation were observed with water stains. The vents in one of the classrooms was observed with dust and debris.
Correction verified Feb 15, 2023
MediumJun 16, 2022InspectionRecords & paperwork
Required Personnel Records §746.901
Staff training records were not available for review for 3 caregivers.
Correction verified Jun 20, 2022
Medium HighJun 16, 2022InspectionBuilding & playground safety
Maintenance of Building, Grounds and Equipment §746.3407
The outdoor play area was observed with trash (multiple pieces of paper, leaves, pieces of broken chalk, and confetti). Corrected at Inspection: The playground floor was cleaned during the inspection.
Corrected during the visit

About this center

Licensed capacity66 children
Ages servedInfant, Toddler, Pre-Kindergarten, School
Hours07:00 AM-06:00 PM
DaysMon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri
Licensed sinceJun 30, 2020
DirectorRaisa Barrera
Phone9566185437
State operation #1690382

Common questions

Does New Horizons Learning Academy take infants?

Yes. Texas licenses it to care for infants through school-age children.

What are New Horizons Learning Academy’s hours?

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

Does New Horizons Learning Academy accept child care subsidies?

Yes, according to its state licensing record.

How much does New Horizons Learning Academy cost?

Texas does not publish individual centers’ prices, so ask New Horizons Learning Academy for its current tuition. For comparison, the median full-day price at licensed centers in the Lower Rio Grande Valley area, which includes McAllen, is $35.60 a day for infants, $34.40 a day for toddlers and $33.40 a day for 3-year-olds (2025 Texas Child Care Market Rate Survey).

Has New Horizons Learning Academy had any serious violations?

Inspectors recorded 5 high-risk citations since 2021. The most recent was on Aug 4, 2026: “AP Ensure total number of children both at & away from center within capacity.” Each one is listed in full above.

How does New Horizons Learning Academy compare with other daycares in McAllen?

It is tied for #36 of 55 centers in McAllen by risk-weighted citations per inspection, and is better than 21% of licensed centers statewide (out of 9,147 Texas centers with enough inspection history).

When was New Horizons Learning Academy last inspected?

Aug 13, 2026. No violations were found 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 1690382 on Search Texas Child Care. Data refreshed Sep 30, 2026.