Thigpen Zavala Head Start
Thigpen Zavala Head Start is a licensed child care center in McAllen, TX, licensed for up to 108 children and serving preschoolers. It has held its Texas license since 2021. Since October 2021, state inspectors have visited 10 times. Inspectors recorded 4 citations, 0 of them high-risk, most often for building & playground safety (2 of 4). None of them came in the last 12 months. Its last 4 inspections found no violations. Measured by risk-weighted citations per inspection, it is #9 of 55 centers in McAllen and better than 71% of licensed centers statewide.
Inspection record
Every state visit
What inspectors cited most
Citations, newest first
Emergency plan for a child with a food allergy is missing the possible symptoms if exposed to a food on the list and the steps to take if the child has an allergic reaction.
There are three red ant piles within operation's playground. Part of the playground fence fell over and is leaning towards the inside of the playground. Note: Provider sent work order to Head Start HeadQuarters and ISD.
Operation has a slide in the playground whose base has started to corrode.
Napping mats in classrooms 1 and 2 were not labeled with the children's names nor number assigned.
About this center
Common questions
Does Thigpen Zavala Head Start take infants?
No. Its Texas license covers preschoolers, not infants.
What are Thigpen Zavala Head Start’s hours?
7 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday, according to its state licensing record. Confirm holiday and summer hours with the center.
Does Thigpen Zavala Head Start accept child care subsidies?
Not according to its state licensing record. Ask the center directly, since participation can change.
How much does Thigpen Zavala Head Start cost?
Texas does not publish individual centers’ prices, so ask Thigpen Zavala Head Start 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 $33.40 a day for 3-year-olds (2025 Texas Child Care Market Rate Survey).
Has Thigpen Zavala Head Start had any serious violations?
No high-risk citations since 2021. It has 4 lower-risk citations, listed above.
How does Thigpen Zavala Head Start compare with other daycares in McAllen?
It is #9 of 55 centers in McAllen by risk-weighted citations per inspection, and is better than 71% of licensed centers statewide (out of 9,147 Texas centers with enough inspection history).
When was Thigpen Zavala Head Start last inspected?
Sep 8, 2026. No violations were found during that visit.
Licensed centers nearby
2321 Galveston Ave Ste 50, McAllen · 0.1 mi away · 31 spotsMore citations than mostBrackenridge Children's Center, LLC
10 S 27th St, McAllen · 0.6 mi away · 73 spotsFewer citations than mostEscandon Head Start
2901 Colbath Ave, McAllen · 0.7 mi away · 109 spotsFewer citations than mostAlvarez Head Start
2606 Gumwood Ave, McAllen · 0.9 mi away · 138 spotsAbout typicalEaster Seals Child Development
1217 W Houston Ave, McAllen · 1.0 mi away · 82 spotsFewer citations than mostColors Daycare Center
906 W Dallas Ave, McAllen · 1.2 mi away · 84 spotsMore citations than most
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 1722732 on Search Texas Child Care. Data refreshed Sep 30, 2026.