Mariner Montessori at the Heights
A licensed child care center in Houston, Texas 77007
5317 Darling St, Houston, Texas 77007. (281) 888-6036.
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The short answer
Record last released by Texas HHSC on Nov 5, 2026.
- 21 deficiencies cited in the last three years Middle in Harris County: 4
- 2 rated High by Texas, its most serious level (needs attention)
- 21 inspections on record
- 4-Star Texas Rising Star rating
Each figure’s source sits beside it, in its section below.
What these words mean5
- Inspection (survey)
- A visit by state inspectors, often unannounced, who check a place against the rules it must meet. For nursing homes and other places Medicare pays, CMS calls these visits surveys: a standard survey of a nursing home comes at least every 15 months, and a complaint survey whenever a complaint calls for one. Source: CMS; 42 CFR 488.308.
- Deficiency, citation, violation
- What inspectors write up when a place didn’t meet a rule: the rule, what they saw, and when. CMS calls it a deficiency; states may say citation or violation. It is the inspectors’ finding, not a court’s, and the place is usually asked for a plan to correct it. Source: CMS, statement of deficiencies (Form CMS-2567); each state’s licensing agency.
- Texas’s risk levels
- Texas gives each child care deficiency a risk level, by how likely it is to harm a child: Low, Medium Low, Medium, Medium High or High. High is its most serious. Source: Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation.
- Licence status
- Whether the state’s licence lets the place operate now, in the state’s own words: licensed, on probation (allowed to keep operating on conditions, after problems), provisional, pending or expired. Source: Each state’s licensing agency.
- Capacity
- The most people the licence or certification lets the place care for at once: residents, children, beds or apartments, as the state counts them. It isn’t how many are there now. Source: Each state’s licensing agency.
What did inspectors find?
21 deficiencies cited in the last three years
The middle of the 2,139 child care providers in Harris County had 4.
21 inspections on record. The latest, on Oct 23, 2026: no violation found.
Rated High by Texas: Prohibited Punishments - Corporal Punishment, at the report to the state on Nov 8, 2024
Rated High by Texas: Responsibilities of Employees and Caregivers -Demonstrate Competency, Good Judgment, Self-control, at the report to the state on Jul 1, 2024
Texas HHSC, deficiencies (non-compliance data) and inspections and investigations. Released Nov 5, 2026. Updated daily.
When those deficiencies happened
20 deficiencies in 7 months of the last 36. Last cited Feb 2026. Most serious: High. The last 3 years, to Nov 5, 2026.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Dec | |||||||||||
| 2024 | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 2025 | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 2026 | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov |
Hover or focus a month to read it.
Hearth Record drew this from the dates and levels in the source’s own records.
Each deficiency, in Texas’s words
Grouped by visit, newest first, with the risk level Texas gave it, from Low to High.
Texas HHSC, deficiencies (non-compliance data). Released Nov 5, 2026. Updated daily.
Feb 24, 2026: inspection2 deficiencies
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Infant Care Area Furnishings and Equipment - Hand-washing Sink
“CCR observed two infants having their diapers changed across the infant room, not near the designated diaper changing sink area.”
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Maintenance of Building, Grounds and Equipment
“During the walk-through, CCR observed specks of dirt under the changing mats on the diaper-changing table in the infants classroom. Correction: A caregiver cleaned the diaper changing table and mat.”
Sep 18, 2025: inspection2 deficiencies
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Required Admission Information - Emergency Contact
“4 of out 8 child records were missing the required emergency contact information.”
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Medication No Longer Used
“During the inspection medication for one child in care was found to be expired. The epinephrine injection has been expired since May of 2025”
Jan 21, 2025: assessment1 deficiency
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Report Number of Employees
“A review of the Employees Who Left Employment in 2023 data from January 17, 2025, revealed that the center had not reported the number of employees who left employment in 2024 by January 15, 2025, as required.”
Nov 8, 2024: report to the state1 deficiency
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Prohibited Punishments - Corporal Punishment
“A caregiver pinched a child while in care.”
Jul 15, 2024: inspection1 deficiency
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Maximum Group Size 13 or More Children
“The infant two classroom had 12 children Specified Age Group was 0-11 months old. The classroom was two over the required ratio of that age group.”
Jul 1, 2024: report to the state1 deficiency
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Responsibilities of Employees and Caregivers -Demonstrate Competency, Good Judgment, Self-control
“A caregiver did not demonstrate good judgment when she fell asleep while caring for infants.”
Jun 20, 2024: report to the state1 deficiency
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Maximum Group Size 13 or More Children
“The infant room #2 class had 15 infants at time of walk-through, the specified age group is 12-17months, maximum group size is 13 infants, over by 2 infants.”
Mar 27, 2024: inspection11 deficiencies
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Child/ Caregiver Ratio - 13 or More Children
“One caregiver had 7 children specified age group 12-17 months old, they were 2 children over the ratio for one caregiver.”
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Food Allergy Emergency Plan Signed by Parents and Health Care Professional
“Three children with a food allergy plan did not have the health-care professional signature.”
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Space Requirements - Under 18 Months of Age Separate from Older Children
“They were two children ages three and four years old in a classroom with children specified age group 12-17 months old. The two children were more then 18 months from the youngest child 11 months old.”
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Emergency Preparedness Plan - Evacuation, relocation, and sheltering/lock-down procedures
“The operation does not have how they would get children 24 months and younger or children with limited mobility out of the building in case of an emergency.”
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Required Admission Information - Reasonable Accommodations or Modifications
“Five children did not have information on if they needed special care.”
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Notification of Change in Space
“The operation did not notify licensing when they change the outside playground to another area, the change was made .”
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Provide Parents With Copy of Policies
“Two children did not have information that parents received the operational policies.”
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Children’s Records - Health Statement
“Six children are missing healthcare statements or information on when they would bring one if they have been enrolled less then 12 months.”
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Children’s Records - Immunizations
“Four children did not have immunization records on file.”
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Required Admission Information - Physician Information
“Seven children did not have information for they healthcare provider or emergency care authorization.”
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Required Admission Information - Transportation Permission
“Eight children did not have information on if the operation could transport them in case of an emergency.”
Nov 8, 2023: inspection1 deficiency
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Fenced Outdoor Activity Space
“The playground fence is not enclose and has two openings towards the back of the fence area.”
14 deficiencies older than three years
Aug 29, 2023: inspection8 deficiencies
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Responsibilities of Caregivers - Know number of children responsible for
“Two caregivers in different classrooms were unsure of how many children they had in care. One caregiver stated 7 then 6 and the other caregiver stated 6 then 5 children in care.”
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Each Caregiver and the Director Must Have Current Training in pediatric first aid with rescue breathing and choking.
“One caregivers first aid training expired on 4/2020 and the other caregiver first aid training was not eligible to read the card.”
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Each Caregiver and the Director Must Have Current Training in pediatric CPR
“One caregivers CPR training expired on 4/2020 and the other caregiver CPR training was not eligible to read the card. Another caregivers CPR training was conducted online.”
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Child/ Caregiver Ratio - 13 or More Children
“In the infant classroom they was one caregiver with 6 children specify age group 0 to 11 months old, the caregiver had one children over the ratio. Corrected: When another caregiver came in from the restroom.”
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Emergency Preparedness Plan - Evacuation, relocation, and sheltering/lock-down procedures
“The operation did not have in their emergency preparedness plan on how they would get children 24 months and younger out of the building.”
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Required Admission Information-Completed Food Allergy Plan
“One child with a food allergy did not have a food allergy plan on file.”
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Provide Parents With Copy of Policies
“One child’s file was missing information on the parents receiving the operational policies.”
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Required Personnel Records - Required Affidavit
“One caregiver did not have an affidavit in their file.”
Jun 14, 2023: inspection1 deficiency
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Posting Requirements - Letter or form from the most recent Licensing Inspection or Investigation
“The operation did not have the most recent inspection form posted, the last inspection form posted was from 3/24/2023 the last inspection at the operation was on 4/18/2023.”
May 18, 2023: inspection2 deficiencies
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Cots, Beds, Mats Labeled With Child’s Name
“The cots and infant beds were not labeled with children’s names.”
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Storage for Individual Belongings
“In some of the classrooms the children’s storage area was not labeled with the children’s names.”
Mar 24, 2023: inspection3 deficiencies
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Written Operational Policies - Safe Sleep for Infants 12 Months and Younger
“The operation did not have in their operational policy about safe sleep for infants.”
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746.5533 carbon monoxide detection system installed
“The operation did not have an carbon monoxide system.”
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Furnishings and Equipment for Pre-Kindergarten Age Interest Centers Clearly Defined
“During the inspection the center did not was have equipment or activities for school age children.”
All 25 visits on record
| Date | Visit | What the record says |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 23, 2026 | Inspection | No violation found |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Inspection | No violation found |
| Feb 24, 2026 | Inspection | 2 deficiencies cited |
| Dec 8, 2025 | Inspection | No violation found |
| Sep 18, 2025 | Inspection | 2 deficiencies cited |
| Sep 12, 2025 | Inspection | No violation found |
| Jan 21, 2025 | Assessment | 1 deficiency cited |
| Dec 20, 2024 | Inspection | No violation found |
| Nov 12, 2024 | Inspection | No violation found |
| Nov 8, 2024 | Report to the state | 1 deficiency cited |
| Sep 30, 2024 | Inspection | No violation found |
| Aug 26, 2024 | Inspection | No violation found |
| Jul 17, 2024 | Inspection | No violation found |
| Jul 15, 2024 | Inspection | 1 deficiency cited |
| Jul 1, 2024 | Report to the state | 1 deficiency cited |
| Jun 27, 2024 | Inspection | No violation found |
| Jun 20, 2024 | Report to the state | 1 deficiency cited |
| Apr 10, 2024 | Inspection | No violation found |
| Mar 27, 2024 | Inspection | 11 deficiencies cited |
| Nov 8, 2023 | Inspection | 1 deficiency cited |
| Sep 18, 2023 | Inspection | No violation found |
| Aug 29, 2023 | Inspection | 8 deficiencies cited |
| Jun 14, 2023 | Inspection | 1 deficiency cited |
| May 18, 2023 | Inspection | 2 deficiencies cited |
| Mar 24, 2023 | Inspection | 3 deficiencies cited |
Is it licensed?
- Licensed Center, permit issued Sep 26, 2023.
- Licensed for ages: Infant, Toddler, Pre-Kindergarten, School.
- Capacity: 80 children.
Texas HHSC, child care operations. Released Nov 5, 2026. Updated daily.
Has Texas acted against it?
- No corrective or adverse action by Texas on record.
- 3 reports to the state on record; Texas doesn’t publish whether they were A complaint allegation the state investigated and found true: the evidence showed it more likely than not happened. Inconclusive means the evidence couldn’t show it either way. Neither inconclusive nor unsubstantiated proves it didn’t happen. Source: California Department of Social Services, complaint findings; each state’s licensing agency..
Texas HHSC, child care operations and inspections and investigations. Released Nov 5, 2026. Updated daily.
Who does the caring?
- Texas doesn’t publish staffing levels for individual providers. State rules set staff-to-child ratios by age.
Who owns it?
- Texas’s open data doesn’t list owners.
How is it rated?
- Texas Rising Star: 4-Star (the highest of three levels).
Texas Workforce Commission, subsidy providers and Texas Rising Star. Released Nov 5, 2026. Updated daily.
How does it compare nearby?
- Among 2139 child care providers in Harris County, the middle value for deficiencies cited in the last three years was 4; this one had 21.
Texas HHSC, deficiencies (non-compliance data). Released Nov 5, 2026. Updated daily.
| Place | Deficiencies, 3 years |
|---|---|
| The Kipling School, Inc. | 2 |
| St. Theresa Early Childhood Center in Memorial Park | 2 |
| Gonzales Day Care | 13 |
| Kipling School on Floyd | 0 |
| After 3 After School Program at Memorial E.s | 7 |
| Mariner Montessori at the Heights This child care provider | 21 |
| Kids R Kids of Houston Heights | 3 |
| Houston Heights DC Center | 13 |
| Esperanza Heights | 11 |
| Finale After School Program at St. Theresa’s | 7 |
| Esperanza School | 14 |
| Messiah Lutheran Early Childhood | 82 |
What the record doesn’t say
- Texas doesn’t publish whether a complaint was substantiated.
- Texas rates some paperwork slips as High risk, so read what was actually cited.
- Texas doesn’t publish staffing levels or owners for individual providers.
Sources
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Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child care operations (bc5r-88dy).
Released Nov 5, 2026 and checked Nov 5, 2026. Updated daily. Creative Commons 1.0 Universal (Public Domain Dedication).
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Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Inspections and investigations (m5q4-3y3d).
Released Nov 5, 2026 and checked Nov 5, 2026. Updated daily. Creative Commons 1.0 Universal (Public Domain Dedication).
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Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Deficiencies (non-compliance data) (tqgd-mf4x).
Released Nov 5, 2026 and checked Nov 5, 2026. Updated daily. Creative Commons 1.0 Universal (Public Domain Dedication).
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Texas Workforce Commission, Subsidy providers and Texas Rising Star.
Released Nov 5, 2026 and checked Nov 5, 2026. Updated daily. No licence stated.
If you believe something here is wrong, a correction starts with the agency whose record this copies: Texas HHSC or Texas Workforce Commission. Texas’s own record is on its child care search. If Hearth Record copied something wrongly, it will fix it and log the correction publicly, with its date: how corrections work.
This copy of the record was made on Nov 5, 2026.
From the provider
The public record above comes first. Anything the provider adds will appear here, below it, and say who wrote it.
Replies
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Paid listing
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