The Exploring Children's Academy
The Exploring Children's Academy is a licensed child care center in San Diego, CA, licensed for up to 24 children and serving preschool-age children. It has held its California license since 2020. Since February 2021, state licensing staff have inspected it 4 times. The state issued 8 citations, 2 of them Type A (the most serious), most often for building & playground safety (2 of 8). 1 citation came in the last 12 months. Measured by weighted citations per inspection, it is tied for #258 of 307 centers in San Diego and has more citations per inspection than 88% of California licensed centers.
Inspection record
Every state visit
What inspectors cited most
Citations, newest first
Based on observation the licensee did not comply with the section cited above wherein 1 teacher was observed supervising 13 children from approximately 9:40AM-9:50AM with no additional staff present which poses/posed a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
Based on record review, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above. Staff D.M.'s fingerprint clearance is not associated to the facility. Mrs. Finney provided proof to LPA that she walked in the documents to the department in October, however records did not show that staff DM's fingerprint was associated. This poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
Based on observation, licensee installed a green climbing structure with insufficient cushioning material that will not absorb falls.
Based on file review, staff Ashley Mullaley Rodriguez did not have a physician's report on file. Ms. Rodriguez was employed on May 30, 2023.
Based on file review, Staff Ashley Mullaley Rodriguez' did not have a current Mandated Reporter Training certificate on file.
Based on observation, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above. During a tour of the facility, LPA observed a bottle of Benadryl stored under the sink that is not latched and accessible to children. This poses an immediate risk to the health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
Based on observation, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above. During a tour of the facility, LPA observed bottles of toxic items such as Lysol and disinfectant cleaner stored in a cabinet that is not latched and accessible to children. This poses an immediate health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
Licensee, Barbara Finney, will provide a roster and copies of the signed LIC 9224s to LPA BLock by
About this center
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Common questions
Does The Exploring Children's Academy take infants?
Not under this license, which covers preschool-age children.
Has The Exploring Children's Academy had any serious violations?
California issued 2 Type A citations since 2021, its most serious category. The most recent was on Jan 19, 2023, for health-related services. Each citation is listed in full above.
How does The Exploring Children's Academy compare with other daycares in San Diego?
It is tied for #258 of 307 centers in San Diego by weighted citations per inspection, and has more citations per inspection than 88% of California licensed centers with enough inspection history to compare.
When was The Exploring Children's Academy last inspected?
Sep 18, 2026. The state issued at least one citation during that visit.
How much does The Exploring Children's Academy cost?
California does not publish individual centers’ prices, so ask The Exploring Children's Academy for its current tuition. For comparison, the median full-time price at licensed centers in San Diego County, which includes San Diego, was $1,013 a month for preschoolers (about $1,280 today) in the state’s 2021 Regional Market Rate Survey.
Who runs The Exploring Children's Academy?
The licensee is Exploring Center LLC, The, and the administrator listed with the state is Barbara Finney.
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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 376105027 on the California Care Facility Search. Data refreshed Oct 3, 2026.