Pioneer Head Start
Pioneer Head Start is a licensed child care center in Gustine, CA, licensed for up to 28 children and serving preschool-age children. It has held its California license since 2006. Since February 2021, state licensing staff have inspected it 3 times. The state issued 3 citations, 0 of them Type A (the most serious), most often for caregiver conduct (1 of 3). None came in the last 12 months. Measured by weighted citations per inspection, it is tied for #78 of 98 centers in Merced County and has more citations per inspection than 61% of California licensed centers.
Inspection record
Every state visit
What inspectors cited most
Citations, newest first
Based on record review and interview the licensee did not comply with the section cited above. Today, licensee could not provide proof that water lead testing was completed by the cut off date of January 1, 2023 as required. This poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
Based on observation and interview the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in. LPA Ocegueda observed the two toilets not flushing adequately upon testing, with one toilet flushing after three attemps. Site Supervisor McDaniels confirmed the observation and stated that the toilets had a history of not flushing. During the inspection of the play yard, there were prodruding roots from the tree near the sand box causing multiple tripping hazards. Site Supervisor confirmed the observation. This a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
Based on record review and interview, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above. Site Supervisor could not provide proof of personnel record for staff #3. Staff #3 floats between different Head Start sites and they could not provide proof of the personnel records during the inspection. This poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
About this center
Common questions
Does Pioneer Head Start take infants?
Not under this license, which covers preschool-age children.
Has Pioneer Head Start had any serious violations?
No Type A citations since 2021. It has 3 Type B citations, listed above.
How does Pioneer Head Start compare with other daycares in Merced County?
It is tied for #78 of 98 centers in Merced County by weighted citations per inspection, and has more citations per inspection than 61% of California licensed centers with enough inspection history to compare.
When was Pioneer Head Start last inspected?
Mar 4, 2026. No citations were issued during that visit.
How much does Pioneer Head Start cost?
California does not publish individual centers’ prices, so ask Pioneer Head Start for its current tuition. For comparison, the median full-time price at licensed centers in Merced County, which includes Gustine, was $730 a month for preschoolers (about $920 today) in the state’s 2021 Regional Market Rate Survey.
Who runs Pioneer Head Start?
The licensee is Merced Co. Office Of Education, and the administrator listed with the state is Melissa McDaniels.
Licensed centers nearby
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1147 R St, Newman · 4.8 mi away · 19 spotsToo few inspections to compareCccds-mike L. Perez, Jr. Child Development Center
655 Hardin Road, Newman · 5.2 mi away · 18 spotsNo citationsCccds-mike L. Perez, Jr. Child Development Center
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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 243808255 on the California Care Facility Search. Data refreshed Oct 2, 2026.