Harbor House Preschool and Kindergarten
Harbor House Preschool and Kindergarten is a certified child care center in Altoona, PA, with capacity for 77 children. It holds a Keystone STAR 1 rating. Since August 2021, Pennsylvania certification staff have inspected it 5 times. The state cited 14 violations, none of them core-safety. None of them came in the last 12 months. Measured by topic-weighted citations per inspection, it is #13 of 22 centers in Altoona and has fewer citations per inspection than 70% of Pennsylvania certified centers.
Inspection record
Every state visit
What inspectors cited most
Citations, newest first
The facility was observed to have a "GO BAG" which contained a first-aid kit that was accessible to children.
The facility's Pre-school room was observed to have a round wooden table with legs that are loose and unsteady.
The facility was observed to have a written record of manually testing all fire detection devices or systems. All dates written in the log indicate testing occurred at least once every thirty days except for the test on 02/24/2025, The log indicates that the test conducted on 02/24/2025 occurred 53 days after the previous test which the log shows occurred on 01/02/2025.
The facility's Pre-K a room was observed to lack the written plan of daily activities posted in the group space.
The files for children #1 and #2 were observed to contain agreement forms that lacked to specify the children's arrival and departure times
The files for children #1 and #2 were observed to contain agreement that did not specify the persons designated by a parent to whom the child may be released.
The file for child #1 was observed to contain an emergency contact form that lacked the enrolling parents work addresses and telephone numbers.
The file for child #2 was observed to contain an emergency contact form that lacked to include information on the child's special needs, as specified by the child's parent, physician, physician's assistant or CRNP,
The facility was observed to lack evidence the facility was providing a letter to the parent of each enrolled child explaining the facility's emergency procedures, including accommodations for infants, toddlers, children with disabilities and children with chronic medical conditions.
The facility was observed to have trash cans in the K-5, Pre-K and Pre-school rooms that were not closed (lidded), plastic-lined receptacles.
The facility was observed to have embedded outdoor equipment in their K-5 playground that was on a bedding of less than 9" of wooden much. The wooden privacy fence that surrounds this outdoor play area was observed to have rusty staples within the reach of children.
The facility was observed to have a medication log for child #1 and #2 that lacked complete parental written consent for administration of medication. This was evidenced by the forms for child #1 and #2 lacking information on the times the medication should be administered. The form for child #2 lacked the dosage amount to be administered.
The facility was observed to have a medication log for child #1, in the K-5 room that lacked special notes, if any related to problems of administration.
The facility lacked documentation the facility had notified local traffic safety authorities annually in writing of the location of the facility and the program's use of pedestrian and vehicular routes around the child care facility.
“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 Harbor House Preschool and Kindergarten had any serious violations?
No citations on supervision, staff ratios, discipline, background checks, child protection or safe sleep since 2021. It has 14 other citations, listed above.
Have there been complaints about Harbor House Preschool and Kindergarten?
Pennsylvania lists no complaint investigation that found a violation at Harbor House Preschool and Kindergarten since 2021. Its search shows these “verified complaints” but not what a complaint alleged, or whether every violation relates to it.
What is Harbor House Preschool and Kindergarten’s Keystone STARS rating?
STAR 1, effective Feb 20, 2024. 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 Harbor House Preschool and Kindergarten compare with other daycares in Altoona?
It is #13 of 22 centers in Altoona by topic-weighted citations per inspection, and has fewer citations per inspection than 70% of Pennsylvania certified centers with enough inspection history to compare.
When was Harbor House Preschool and Kindergarten last inspected?
Oct 9, 2025 (renewal). The state cited at least one violation during that visit.
Who runs Harbor House Preschool and Kindergarten?
The legal entity on its Pennsylvania certificate is Harbor House Preschool And Kindergarten LLC.
Certified centers nearby
108 W Ward Ave, Altoona · 0.5 mi away Fewer citations than most The Childrens Place Early Learning Center INC
4016 5th Ave, Altoona · 0.8 mi away · 61 spots About typical First Impressions Early Childhood Dev Center INC
845 37th St, Altoona · 1.1 mi away · 24 spots Among the most cited Bishop Guilfoyle Academy
5519 6th Ave, Altoona · 1.2 mi away · 45 spots Fewer citations than most Kids First Center for Early Learning
4 Sheraton Dr, Altoona · 1.6 mi away · 189 spots More citations than most First Impressions Ecdc
2026 6th Ave, Altoona · 1.7 mi away · 36 spots More citations than most
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.