Daycare RecordChild care inspection records

Merit Children's Academy

5835 Penrose Ave, Dallas, TX 75206 · Dallas County
2 high-risk citations in last 12 months

Merit Children's Academy is a licensed child care center in Dallas, TX, licensed for up to 102 children and serving toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children. It has held its Texas license since 2025. Since October 2021, state inspectors have visited 14 times and investigated 5 reports. Inspectors recorded 5 citations, 5 of them high-risk, most often for caregiver conduct (4 of 5). 2 citations came in the last 12 months, including 2 high-risk. 20% were corrected during the inspection itself. Its last 7 inspections found no violations. Measured by risk-weighted citations per inspection, it is tied for #128 of 328 centers in Dallas and better than 63% of licensed centers statewide.

Inspection record

Better than 63%of 9,147 Texas licensed centers, comparing risk-weighted citations per inspection. About typical
Tied for #128 of 328 centers in Dallas
5High risk
0Medium High risk
0Medium risk
0Medium Low risk
0Low risk
5 citations from 14 inspections and 0 reports since Oct 1, 2021 · 2 in the last 12 months · last inspected Jul 9, 2026

Every state visit

20222023202420252026INSPECTIONS (top) · REPORTS & INVESTIGATIONS (bottom)Jul 9, 2026 · Inspection · no citationJun 29, 2026 · Report/investigation · no citationJun 11, 2026 · Inspection · no citationDec 3, 2025 · Inspection · no citationNov 5, 2025 · Inspection · no citationNov 3, 2025 · Report/investigation · citation foundOct 22, 2025 · Inspection · no citationOct 14, 2025 · Inspection · no citationOct 10, 2025 · Report/investigation · citation foundJul 29, 2025 · Inspection · no citationJul 11, 2025 · Inspection · citation foundJul 10, 2025 · Report/investigation · citation foundMay 19, 2025 · Inspection · no citationApr 16, 2025 · Inspection · no citationApr 4, 2025 · Inspection · no citationApr 2, 2025 · Report/investigation · citation foundMar 26, 2025 · Inspection · no citationFeb 20, 2025 · Inspection · no citationNov 14, 2024 · Inspection · no citation
Citation foundNo citation

What inspectors cited most

Caregiver conduct4
Food & feeding1

Citations, newest first

HighNov 3, 2025Found during an investigationCaregiver conduct
Prohibited Punishments - Grabbing and Pulling §746.2805(3)
It was determined that a caregiver inappropriately grabbed a child resulting in multiple contusions to the child's arm.
Correction verified Dec 3, 2025
HighOct 10, 2025Found during an investigationCaregiver conduct
Prohibited Punishments - Grabbing and Pulling §746.2805(3)
It was determined that a caregiver inappropriately grabbed a child resulting in minor abrasions being left on the child's arm.
Correction verified Nov 5, 2025
HighJul 11, 2025InspectionFood & feeding
Mark Cleaning Supplies, Toxic Materials; Keep Separate from Food and Inaccessible to Children §746.3407(12)
A cleaning spray was left on a shelf in reach of children in the classroom. The operation came into complaince when the spray was moved to the cabinet.
Corrected during the visit
HighJul 10, 2025Found during an investigationCaregiver conduct
Prohibited Punishments - Grabbing and Pulling §746.2805(3)
A caregiver inappropriately grabbed a child, resulting in minor abrasions on the child's arm.
Correction verified Jul 29, 2025
HighApr 2, 2025Found during an investigationCaregiver conduct
Prohibited Punishments - No Harsh, Cruel or Unusual §746.2805
A child was handled in a harsh manner when a caregiver forced the child onto a nap mat.
Correction verified Apr 16, 2025

About this center

Licensed capacity102 children
Ages servedToddler, Pre-Kindergarten, School
Hours07:00 AM-06:00 PM
DaysMon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri
Licensed sinceJun 19, 2025
DirectorKira Jackson
Phone2147640179
State operation #1806606

Common questions

Does Merit Children's Academy take infants?

No. Its Texas license covers toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children, not infants.

What are Merit Children's Academy’s hours?

7 AM to 6 PM, Monday through Friday, according to its state licensing record. Confirm holiday and summer hours with the center.

Does Merit Children's Academy accept child care subsidies?

Not according to its state licensing record. Ask the center directly, since participation can change.

How much does Merit Children's Academy cost?

Texas does not publish individual centers’ prices, so ask Merit Children's Academy for its current tuition. For comparison, the median full-day price at licensed centers in the Greater Dallas area, which includes Dallas, is $44.00 a day for toddlers, $42.40 a day for 3-year-olds and $39.80 a day for school-age children (2025 Texas Child Care Market Rate Survey).

Has Merit Children's Academy had any serious violations?

Inspectors recorded 5 high-risk citations since 2021. The most recent was on Nov 3, 2025: “Prohibited Punishments - Grabbing and Pulling.” Each one is listed in full above.

How does Merit Children's Academy compare with other daycares in Dallas?

It is tied for #128 of 328 centers in Dallas by risk-weighted citations per inspection, and is better than 63% of licensed centers statewide (out of 9,147 Texas centers with enough inspection history).

When was Merit Children's Academy last inspected?

Jul 9, 2026. No violations were found during that visit.

Licensed centers nearby

Citations are quoted from Texas HHS inspection records. Many are corrected the same day, and a citation is a finding about one rule, not a judgment about a center overall.

To see the official record, search operation 1806606 on Search Texas Child Care. Data refreshed Sep 30, 2026.