Charley Brown Children's Center
Charley Brown Children's Center is a licensed child care center in La Mesa, CA, licensed for up to 94 children and serving preschool-age children. It has held its California license since 1975. Since February 2021, state licensing staff have inspected it 3 times and investigated 3 complaints, 1 of them substantiated. The state issued 2 citations, 1 of them Type A (the most serious). None of them came in the last 12 months. Measured by weighted citations per inspection, it is #22 of 32 centers in La Mesa and has more citations per inspection than 70% of California licensed centers.
Inspection record
Every state visit
What inspectors cited most
Citations, newest first
101227(a)(1) Food Services In child care centers providing meals to children, the following shall apply:...All food shall be selected, stored, prepared and served in a safe and healthful manner...This requirement was not met as evidence by: Director was provided with the choking hazard food flyer published by the center for disease control (CDC) and prevention. Director stated that effective immediately the facility will cut hot dogs lengthwise as well as in half as reccomended by CDC guidelines. Per interviews conducted and LPA observation, the facility serves toddlers hot dogs cut in half which is a choking hazard, This poses a potential health and safety risk to children in care. 8 Director will provide written plan of correction to LPA within 30 days.
Based on interview and record review, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in 1 out of 87 persons, as C1 was not accorded safe equipment due to the wall play structure was not age appropriate for a 3 year old, which poses an immediate health, safety, or personal rights risk to persons in care. 8 SDRO, no later than 11/15/2023
Complaint investigations
Facility staff do not ensure age appropriate food is provided to children
How often are complaints about daycares in San Diego County substantiated? See the county-by-county report →
About this center
Other licenses at this address
Common questions
Does Charley Brown Children's Center take infants?
Not under this license, which covers preschool-age children. An infant center is licensed separately at the same address (listed below).
Has Charley Brown Children's Center had any serious violations?
California issued 1 Type A citation since 2021, its most serious category. The most recent was on Nov 9, 2023, for personal rights. Each citation is listed in full above.
Have there been complaints about Charley Brown Children's Center?
California investigated 3 complaints since 2021 and substantiated 1. Allegations are shown only for substantiated complaints.
How does Charley Brown Children's Center compare with other daycares in La Mesa?
It is #22 of 32 centers in La Mesa by weighted citations per inspection, and has more citations per inspection than 70% of California licensed centers with enough inspection history to compare.
When was Charley Brown Children's Center last inspected?
Oct 16, 2025. No citations were issued during that visit.
How much does Charley Brown Children's Center cost?
California does not publish individual centers’ prices, so ask Charley Brown Children's Center for its current tuition. For comparison, the median full-time price at licensed centers in San Diego County, which includes La Mesa, was $1,013 a month for preschoolers (about $1,280 today) in the state’s 2021 Regional Market Rate Survey.
Who runs Charley Brown Children's Center?
The licensee is United Church Of Christ Of La Mesa, and the administrator listed with the state is Elizabeth Cortese.
Licensed centers nearby
5921 Jackson Drive, La Mesa · under 0.1 mi away · 22 spots About typical S.m.a.s.h Afterschool
6062 Lake Murray Blvd Ste 112, La Mesa · 0.3 mi away · 15 spots Too few inspections to compare St. Andrew's Lutheran Preschool
8350 Lake Murray Boulevard, San Diego · 0.4 mi away · 24 spots More citations than most Grow Smart Academy
6261 Jackson Drive, San Diego · 0.4 mi away · 21 spots Too few inspections to compare Grow Smart Children's Academy
6271 Jackson Drive, San Diego · 0.4 mi away · 33 spots Among the most cited Bunnybears Infant Toddler Center
8314 Parkway Drive, La Mesa · 0.6 mi away · 31 spots No citations
Citations are quoted from California Department of Social Services inspection and complaint reports. Type A citations are the state’s most serious category (an immediate risk to children’s health, safety or personal rights); Type B citations are a potential risk. A citation is a finding about one rule, not a judgment about a center overall. Complaint allegations appear here only when the state substantiated them.
To read the full state reports, search facility number 370800939 on the California Care Facility Search. Data refreshed Oct 3, 2026.
Comparing centers? See how to choose a daycare: 30 questions to ask and a printable checklist.