Daycare RecordChild care inspection records

Smaller Scholars

1685 &1675 S Dairy Ashford, Houston, TX 77077 · Harris County

Smaller Scholars is a licensed child care center in Houston, TX, licensed for up to 238 children and serving infants through school-age children. It has held its Texas license since 2005. Since October 2021, state inspectors have visited 16 times and investigated 2 reports. Inspectors recorded 20 citations, 5 of them high-risk, most often for building & playground safety (8 of 20). 6 citations came in the last 12 months. 20% were corrected during the inspection itself. Measured by risk-weighted citations per inspection, it is tied for #484 of 882 centers in Houston and better than 20% of licensed centers statewide.

Inspection record

Better than 20%of 9,147 Texas licensed centers, comparing risk-weighted citations per inspection. More citations than most
Tied for #484 of 882 centers in Houston
5High risk
11Medium High risk
4Medium risk
0Medium Low risk
0Low risk
20 citations from 16 inspections and 1 reports since Oct 1, 2021 · 6 in the last 12 months · last inspected Aug 6, 2026

Every state visit

20222023202420252026INSPECTIONS (top) · REPORTS & INVESTIGATIONS (bottom)Aug 6, 2026 · Inspection · no citationMay 5, 2026 · Inspection · citation foundMar 6, 2026 · Inspection · no citationMar 6, 2026 · Assessment · citation foundDec 5, 2025 · Assessment · citation foundMay 20, 2025 · Inspection · no citationMay 13, 2025 · Inspection · citation foundMar 11, 2025 · Inspection · no citationMay 31, 2024 · Inspection · citation foundJan 30, 2024 · Inspection · no citationNov 7, 2023 · Inspection · no citationNov 2, 2023 · Inspection · citation foundAug 21, 2023 · Inspection · no citationAug 18, 2023 · Report/investigation · citation foundJun 8, 2023 · Inspection · no citationOct 27, 2022 · Inspection · no citationOct 13, 2022 · Inspection · citation foundOct 4, 2022 · Report/investigation · no citationJun 29, 2022 · Inspection · no citationJun 14, 2022 · Inspection · citation found
Citation foundNo citation

What inspectors cited most

Building & playground safety8
Health & medication2
Training & qualifications2
Caregiver conduct2
Supervision2
Sleep safety1
Food & feeding1
Staff ratios1
Other standards1

Citations, newest first

Medium HighMay 5, 2026InspectionBuilding & playground safety
Floors, ceilings and Walls in Good Repair and Clean §746.3407(9)
Observed ceiling tile hanging down in classroom with children present.
Correction verified Jun 10, 2026
MediumMay 5, 2026InspectionSleep safety
Safety Requirements for Cribs - Label for Each Infant §746.2409(a)(10)
One infant was observed sleeping in a crib that was not labeled with the child's name
Correction verified Jun 10, 2026
MediumMay 5, 2026InspectionHealth & medication
Medication No Longer Used §746.3809
I observed expired emergency medication in the mediation cabinet. NOTE: This was corrected during the inspection by removing the medication to go back home with parents
Corrected during the visit
MediumMay 5, 2026InspectionFood & feeding
Written Feeding Instructions - Review and Update Every 30 Days §746.2421(b)
It was observed that feeding instructions for two infants were not signed or updated by the parent/guardian within the last 30 days.
Correction verified Jun 10, 2026
Medium HighMar 6, 2026InspectionBuilding & playground safety
Floors, ceilings and Walls in Good Repair and Clean §746.3407(9)
In rooms PR 4 and PR 5, I observed major cracks within the walls' interior. In the same rooms around the crack, the paint is starting to chip.
Correction verified Mar 17, 2026
Medium HighDec 5, 2025InspectionBuilding & playground safety
Floors, ceilings and Walls in Good Repair and Clean §746.3407(9)
In rooms PR 4 and PR 5, I observed major cracks within the walls' interior. In the same rooms around the crack, the paint is starting to chip.
Correction verified Mar 6, 2026
Medium HighMay 13, 2025InspectionBuilding & playground safety
Floors, ceilings and Walls in Good Repair and Clean §746.3407(9)
In rooms PR 4 and PR 5, I observed major cracks within the walls' interior. In the same rooms around the crack, the paint is starting to chip.
Correction verified Oct 2, 2025
Medium HighMay 13, 2025InspectionBuilding & playground safety
Annual Fire Inspection - Conducted by Fire Marshal §746.5101(b)
The last fire inspection was conducted on 4/25/24.
Correction verified Jul 15, 2025
Medium HighMay 13, 2025InspectionBuilding & playground safety
Maintenance of Building, Grounds and Equipment §746.3407
The wood borders around the playground were broken, exposing sharp parts of the wood and nails.
Correction verified Jul 18, 2025
Medium HighMay 31, 2024InspectionTraining & qualifications
CPR Training and Recertification Adhere to Guidelines-skill based §746.1315(b)(1)
One employee did not have a valid hands on CPR training certificate.
Correction verified Jun 20, 2024
MediumMay 31, 2024InspectionHealth & medication
Medication No Longer Used §746.3809
I observed expired emergency medication in the mediation cabinet. NOTE: This was corrected during the inspection by removing the medication to go back home with parents.
Corrected during the visit
Medium HighMay 31, 2024InspectionBuilding & playground safety
Garbage Inaccessible to Children; Maintained in Sanitary Manner §746.3407(8)
I observed several rooms without trash cans covers.
Correction verified Jun 20, 2024
Medium HighNov 2, 2023InspectionBuilding & playground safety
Safety - Play Materials and Equipment Safe §746.3701(5)
During the walkthrough on the playground, there was a plywood with a sharp nail sticking out. Along the toddlers playground fence there was a nail sticking up out of the board. NOTE: This was corrected during the inspection with the plywood being removed and nail being hammerd down into the wood.
Corrected during the visit
HighNov 2, 2023InspectionStaff ratios
AP Background check results - Must receive notification prior to allowing subject to be present at your operation §745.641
The operation had one caregiver present who was counted in the child caregiver ratio and did not have an eligible background check.
Correction verified Nov 7, 2023
HighAug 18, 2023Found during an investigationCaregiver conduct
Prohibited Punishments - Corporal Punishment §746.2805(1)
During the course of the investigation, it was discovered that a caregiver used prohibited punishment on a child in care.
Correction verified Nov 2, 2023
HighAug 18, 2023Found during an investigationCaregiver conduct
Prohibited Punishments - Placing Child in Locked or Dark Room §746.2805(7)
During the course of the investigation, it was discovered that a caregiver locked a child in the restroom.
Correction verified Nov 2, 2023
HighOct 13, 2022InspectionSupervision
Responsibilities of Caregivers - Know Group Responsible For §746.1203(2)
The caregiver in room PR6 stated there were 17 children present, however 16 were counted.
Correction verified Oct 26, 2022
Medium HighJun 14, 2022InspectionOther standards
Caregivers Have Access to Tracking System §746.631(b)
The caregiver in room PR8 had 4 children napping in another classroom during her shift, but the children were not signed out on the name to face log. Note: This was corrected during the inspection.
Corrected during the visit
Medium HighJun 14, 2022InspectionTraining & qualifications
Documented Annual Training - Caregivers of Children Under 24 Months Required §746.1309(d)
2 caregiver in charge of children under 24 months old did not have the following trainings: 1. Understanding early childhood brain development. 2. Recognizing and preventing shaken baby syndrome and abusive head trauma.
Correction verified Jun 28, 2022
HighJun 14, 2022InspectionSupervision
Responsibilities of Caregivers - Know Group Responsible For §746.1203(2)
The caregiver in room TR1 stated there were 8 children present, but there were 9 children present. The caregiver in room PR8 stated there were 8 children, then stated there were 9 children, but there were 10 children present.
Correction verified Jun 29, 2022

About this center

Licensed capacity238 children
Ages servedInfant, Toddler, Pre-Kindergarten, School
Hours07:00 AM-06:00 PM
DaysMon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri
Licensed sinceNov 14, 2005
DirectorAshley Nguyen
Phone2815583515
State operation #854951

Common questions

Does Smaller Scholars take infants?

Yes. Texas licenses it to care for infants through school-age children.

What are Smaller Scholars’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 Smaller Scholars accept child care subsidies?

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

Has Smaller Scholars had any serious violations?

Inspectors recorded 5 high-risk citations since 2021. The most recent was on Nov 2, 2023: “AP Background check results - Must receive notification prior to allowing subject to be present at your operation.” Each one is listed in full above.

How does Smaller Scholars compare with other daycares in Houston?

It is tied for #484 of 882 centers in Houston by risk-weighted citations per inspection, and is better than 20% of licensed centers statewide (out of 9,147 Texas centers with enough inspection history).

When was Smaller Scholars last inspected?

Aug 6, 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 854951 on Search Texas Child Care. Data refreshed Sep 30, 2026.