Bright Horizons at Center City
Bright Horizons at Center City is a certified child care center in Philadelphia, PA, with capacity for 155 children. It holds a Keystone STAR 4 (accredited) rating. Since August 2021, Pennsylvania certification staff have inspected it 5 times. The state cited 17 violations, 2 of them core-safety (supervision, staff ratios, discipline, background checks, child protection or safe sleep). 8 citations came in the last 12 months. Measured by topic-weighted citations per inspection, it is tied for #527 of 1,163 centers in Philadelphia and has fewer citations per inspection than 57% of Pennsylvania certified centers.
Inspection record
Every state visit
What inspectors cited most
Citations, newest first
During the renewal inspection on 9/4/26, the operator did not have the Emergency Plan posted conspicuously for the parents to view.
During the renewal inspection on 9/4/26: 1. In the Two's room, there was sever water damage on the ceiling that produced peeling paint and plaster that was also on the floor below. 2. In the Two's room, the entrance door would not open and was in poor repair. 3. In the K-Prep room, there was a malfunctioning refrigerator that did not work.
During the renewal inspection on 9/4/26, staff person #1 did not have a health assessment completed within the last 24 months.
During the renewal inspection on 9/4/26, the operator did not have the Pick-up and Drop-off procedure posted conspicuously for the parents to view.
During the renewal inspection on 9/4/26, the operator did not have verification that the emergency plan was sent to the local municipality and to the county emergency management agency.
During the renewal inspection on 9/4/26, the operator did not have verification on file that notification was sent to the local traffic safety authorities of the location of the facility and the program's use of pedestrian and vehicular routes around the childcare facility.
During the renewal inspection on 9/4/26, in the Preschool 1 room, child #1 had emergency contact information that did not have the enrolling parent's phone number.
During the renewal inspection on 9/4/26, in the Toddler 2 room, child #2 had emergency contact information that was not updated within the last 6-months. (It was dated 9/2/25).
During the renewal inspection on 9/4/25, during the preparation to transition from the Two's 2 Room to the Indoor play space, staff person #3 lost supervision of child#1 as the child was able to get out of the room and into the Indoor play space alone and out of staff person #3 sight.
During the renewal inspection on 9/4/25, in Infant Room #3, staff persons #1 and 2 were not able to effectively identify the specific group of children they were responsible for.
During the renewal inspection on 9/4/25, the protective Fire Pull Station Enclosure was improperly secured and in poor repair resulting in it falling off of the wall while entering the Indoor play space, creating a hazard for the children.
During the renewal inspection on 9/4/25, there was no transportation plan posted in the Infant Room 1.
During the renewal inspection on 8/27/24, there was an unused electrical outlet in the Infant/Toddler back up room that did not have a protective receptacle cover.
During the renewal inspection on 8/27/24, there was a water hose running from inside the facility, down the hall and to the outside play area that posed a hazard to the children. Water hose must be wound or put away after use.
During the renewal inspection on 8/27/24, Infant Room 2 and Infant room 3 combined into one class because a staff person was out sick and the list/label for child #1 new crib was not updated to reflect the change.
During the renewal inspection on 8/27/24, child #2 did not have emergency contact information in the Indoor play space while in care in that space.
DURING THE RENEWAL INSPECTION THE CERTIFICATION REPRESENTATIVE REVIEWED THE EMERGENCY PLAN AND THERE WERE NO ACCOMODATIONS FOR INFANTS, TODDLERS, CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES OR CHILDREN WITH CHRONIC MEDICAL CONDITIONS AND NO METHODS TO CONTACT PARENTS WHEN THE EMERGENCY SITUATION END. (IMPLEMENTED ON SITE).
“Core safety” marks citations about supervision and staff ratios, discipline and caregiver conduct, background checks, child protection and safe sleep, the topics our score weights most. Pennsylvania’s records don’t grade violations by severity. “Follow-up” marks a violation re-cited at a follow-up visit, counted once. How scores work.
About this center
Common questions
Has Bright Horizons at Center City had any serious violations?
Pennsylvania cited 2 violations since 2021 on the topics Daycare Record treats as core safety (supervision, staff ratios, discipline, background checks, child protection or safe sleep). The most recent, on Sep 3, 2025 (supervision): “During the renewal inspection on 9/4/25, during the preparation to transition from the Two's 2 Room to the Indoor play space, staff person #3 lost supervision of child#1 as the child was able to get out of the room and…” Pennsylvania’s records don’t grade violations by severity; each citation is listed in full above.
Have there been complaints about Bright Horizons at Center City?
Pennsylvania lists no complaint investigation that found a violation at Bright Horizons at Center City since 2021. Its search shows these “verified complaints” but not what a complaint alleged, or whether every violation relates to it.
What is Bright Horizons at Center City’s Keystone STARS rating?
STAR 4 (accredited), effective Jun 7, 2026. Keystone STARS is Pennsylvania’s quality rating program for child care, from STAR 1 to STAR 4. It measures program quality, not inspection results, so read both.
How does Bright Horizons at Center City compare with other daycares in Philadelphia?
It is tied for #527 of 1,163 centers in Philadelphia by topic-weighted citations per inspection, and has fewer citations per inspection than 57% of Pennsylvania certified centers with enough inspection history to compare.
When was Bright Horizons at Center City last inspected?
Sep 4, 2026 (renewal). The state cited at least one violation during that visit.
Who runs Bright Horizons at Center City?
The legal entity on its Pennsylvania certificate is Bright Horizons Childrens Centers LLC.
Certified centers nearby
1635 Market St, Philadelphia · under 0.1 mi away · 199 spots About typical KinderCare Learning Center 303009
1700 Market St, Philadelphia · 0.1 mi away · 139 spots More citations than most Friends Child Care Center
1501 Cherry St, Philadelphia · 0.2 mi away · 148 spots About typical Right Steps of Rittenhouse Square
1531 Locust St # 35, Philadelphia · 0.3 mi away · 105 spots About typical The Learning Experience
1601 Vine St, Philadelphia · 0.4 mi away · 160 spots More citations than most Temple Beth Zion Beth Israel
300 S 18th St, Philadelphia · 0.4 mi away · 65 spots About typical
Citations are quoted from Pennsylvania Department of Human Services inspection records (Office of Child Development and Early Learning, Bureau of Certification Services), including each finding and the center’s plan of correction. Rule numbers refer mostly to 55 Pa. Code Chapter 3270, the rules for child care centers; a few cite Chapter 20, which covers every certified facility. Pennsylvania’s records don’t grade violations by severity; the “core safety” label and the score are Daycare Record’s.
To check the state’s own record, search the center’s name on COMPASS Child Care Provider Search and open its inspection history. Data refreshed Oct 16, 2026.
Comparing centers? See how to choose a daycare: 30 questions to ask and a printable checklist.
Concerned about this center? See how to report a daycare: which state line to call, what to write down and what happens next.