La Petite Academy
La Petite Academy is a licensed child care center in San Diego, CA, licensed for up to 123 children and serving preschool-age children. It has held its California license since 1994. Since February 2021, state licensing staff have inspected it 2 times and investigated 3 complaints, 2 of them substantiated. The state issued 9 citations, 3 of them Type A (the most serious), most often for caregiver conduct (4 of 9). None came in the last 12 months. Measured by weighted citations per inspection, it is tied for #300 of 307 centers in San Diego and has more citations per inspection than 98% of California licensed centers.
Inspection record
Every state visit
What inspectors cited most
Citations, newest first
Based on interview and video evidence, staff member S1, was observed continuously pulling child C2 across the classroom floor by the hand – an incident captured by cameras. This posed an immediate health, safety, and personal rights risks to the children in care. 8 communicate this deficiency to the center director. Deficiency cleared during visit.
Based on staff interviews and record review, several staff heard and witnessed another staff member yell at children in a forceful manner. This poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to the children in care.
101223(a)(2) Personal Rights: The licensee shall ensure that each child is accorded the following personal rights (2) To be accorded safe, healthful and comfortable accommodations, furnishings and equipment to meet his/her needs. Interim center director, Ms. Herrera, stated she will conduct a training on Personal Rights and submit the training agenda with list of all preschool staff attendees to the Dept by 6/19/25. Email: Gerald.Poindexter@dss.ca.gov Based on staff interviews and record review, several staff have heard and witnessed other staff members arguing in the classroom, in front of children in care. This poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to the children in care. 8
Based on record review, the facility did not comply with the section cited above. The facility did not maintain current mandated reporter certification for 1 of 6 staff present. This poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
Based on record review, the facility did not comply with the section cited above. Staff S2 was missing immunization for pertussis which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
Based on director and staff interviews , child sustained an allergic reaction due to staff negligence while in care. This poses an immediate/potential health, safety or personal rights risk to children in care. 8 Request Denied
Based on director and staff interviews, staff did not seek medical attention in a timely matter. This poses an immediate/potential health, safety or personal rights risk to children in care.
Director has provided correction on today's visit. She will ensure that in the future incidents are reported on the duty line (619)767-2248 and submit an incident report by email to SDIncidentReports@dss.ca.gov or by Fax at (619 767-2203 within 24 hours of occurring. Licensee will also provide written statement explaining that she will submit future reports per the required time frames to LPA Annette.Sutherland@dss.ca.gov This requirement was not met as evidenced by the department did not receive an incident report within 24 hours. This poses a potential health and safety risk to children in care.
Director will provide a written statement to explain procedures and how medication dates will be tracked. This requirement was not met as evidenced by medication has expired. This poses a potential health and safety risk to children in care.
Complaint investigations
Staff yelled at the daycare children while in care
Staff behavior poses a risk while daycare children are present
1. Day care child sustained allergic reaction due to staff's negligence while in care.
2. Staff did not seek medical attention in a timely manner.
About this center
Other licenses at this address
Common questions
Does La Petite Academy take infants?
Not under this license, which covers preschool-age children. An infant center is licensed separately at the same address (listed below).
Has La Petite Academy had any serious violations?
California issued 3 Type A citations since 2021, its most serious category. The most recent was on Jun 6, 2025, for personal rights. Each citation is listed in full above.
Have there been complaints about La Petite Academy?
California investigated 3 complaints since 2021 and substantiated 2. Allegations are shown only for substantiated complaints.
How does La Petite Academy compare with other daycares in San Diego?
It is tied for #300 of 307 centers in San Diego by weighted citations per inspection, and has more citations per inspection than 98% of California licensed centers with enough inspection history to compare.
When was La Petite Academy last inspected?
Dec 2, 2024. The state issued at least one citation during that visit.
How much does La Petite Academy cost?
California does not publish individual centers’ prices, so ask La Petite 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 La Petite Academy?
The licensee is La Petite Academy Incorporated, and the administrator listed with the state is Heidy Balderas.
Licensed centers nearby
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10925 Morning Creek Drive S., San Diego · 0.3 mi away · 68 spotsToo few inspections to compareMorning Creek Elementary: Pearl Center
10925 Morning Creek Drive S., San Diego · 0.3 mi away · 24 spotsToo few inspections to compareKindercare Paseo Montril Infant
10065 Paseo Montril, San Diego · 0.7 mi away · 36 spotsMore citations than mostKindercare Paseo Montril Preschool
10065 Paseo Montril, San Diego · 0.7 mi away · 84 spotsMore citations than mostDiscovery Isle Child Development Center
10125 Azuaga Street, San Diego · 0.9 mi away · 56 spotsAbout typical
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 376600083 on the California Care Facility Search. Data refreshed Oct 2, 2026.