# A Step Above Preparatory Academy INC. A Step Above Preparatory Academy INC. is a licensed child care program (child care center) in Arcola, TX serving ages Infant, Toddler, Pre-Kindergarten, School, with 95 licensed seats. It is regulated by TX HHSC. ## Key facts - Status: Full Permit · Operating - Address: 5203 Fm 521 Rd, Arcola, TX 77583 - Ages: Infant, Toddler, Pre-Kindergarten, School - Capacity: 95 - License/permit: 1395446 - Operator: not published - Phone: (281) 431-5353 - Website: www.astepaboveprep.com - Hours: 05:30 AM-06:30 PM (Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri) - Accepts child care subsidies: yes - Official regulator profile: https://childcare.hhs.texas.gov/Public/OperationDetails?operationId=964228 ## Inspection record 15 findings across 11 Texas HHSC inspections (2022-06-27 to 2026-09-30); 10 rated serious; 0 open at last record. - 2026-09-16 — Staff qualifications & clearances, Medium-low risk, Correction verified 2026-09-18: Required Personnel Records - Required Affidavit (Form 2985): Two caregivers have affidavits that do not have a notary stamp on them. (§746.901(4); [type](https://www.kinfield.site/violation/tx-tac-746-901-4)) - 2026-09-16 — Fire safety & emergency drills, Medium-high risk, Correction verified 2026-09-30: Electric or Battery-Operated Carbon Monoxide Detector-Install new Battery in Each CO Detector Annually: The smoke detectors in the front of the building are beeping. (§746.5537(a)(1); [type](https://www.kinfield.site/violation/tx-tac-746-5537-a-1)) - 2026-09-16 — Facilities & equipment, Medium-high risk, Correction verified 2026-10-12: Installation and Maintenance of Loose-fill Surfacing - Proper Depth Maintained: The loose fill has grass growing through out it and needs maintained to ensure it meets the required depth. (§746.4907(d); [type](https://www.kinfield.site/violation/tx-tac-746-4907-d)) - 2026-09-16 — Safety hazards, Medium-high risk, Correction verified 2026-09-30: Maintenance of Building, Grounds and Equipment: A pole in the back building was observed to be missing paint and exposing not only the sheet rock but a metal bracket. (§746.3407; [type](https://www.kinfield.site/violation/tx-tac-746-3407)) - 2026-09-16 — Staff qualifications & clearances, Medium risk, Correction verified 2026-09-23: Children's Records - Immunizations: Two childre's files have screen shots for their immunization record. (§746.603(a)(4); [type](https://www.kinfield.site/violation/tx-tac-746-603-a-4)) - 2026-09-16 — Staff qualifications & clearances, Medium risk, Corrected at inspection: Director's Absence - Caregiver in Charge Has Access to All Records: The caregiver in charge did not have access to personnel and children files while the director was away. Note: It was discussed with the director that access must be given to the caregiver left in charge while both directors are out of the building. (§746.1013(a)(3); [type](https://www.kinfield.site/violation/tx-tac-746-1013-a-3)) - 2026-09-16 — Other, High risk, Correction verified 2026-09-30: Infant May Not Sleep in a Restrictive Device: A 2 month old infant was observed sleeping in a swing. Note: The caregiver removed the infant from the swing. (§746.2426(a)(1); [type](https://www.kinfield.site/violation/tx-tac-746-2426-a-1)) - 2025-09-17 — Safety hazards, Medium-high risk, Correction verified 2025-09-29: Safety - Areas Free From Hazards: A board is broken in half and hanging loose on the hand rail to the ramp leading into the back building. (§746.3701; [type](https://www.kinfield.site/violation/tx-tac-746-3701)) - 2025-09-17 — Staff qualifications & clearances, Medium risk, Correction verified 2025-09-18: Required Records Maintained and Made Available - Personnel and Training Records: The staff files were not available during my inspection. (§746.801(3); [type](https://www.kinfield.site/violation/tx-tac-746-801-3)) - 2025-09-17 — Safety hazards, Medium-high risk, Correction verified 2025-09-30: Installation and Maintenance of Loose-fill Surfacing - Six Inches if Equipment 5 Ft or Less: The loose fill is not at the required six inches according to the heigth of the climbing structure. (§746.4907(a)(1); [type](https://www.kinfield.site/violation/tx-tac-746-4907-a-1)) - 2023-09-27 — Safety hazards, Medium-high risk, Correction verified 2023-12-11: Maintenance of Building, Grounds and Equipment: School age room: The cork board on the wall is peeling. The wall near the restroom is peeling. Ceiling Tiles are drooping in the restroom. The vent fan in the restroom is visibly dusty. The white shelf is missing a chunk of material on the top exposing a screw. Outside: On the play structure there is a broken support clamp. Paint is peeling on two of the hand rails used for the ladder part of the climbing structure. (§746.3407; [type](https://www.kinfield.site/violation/tx-tac-746-3407)) - 2023-09-27 — Sanitation & hygiene, Medium-high risk, Correction verified 2023-12-11: Infant Care Area Furnishings and Equipment - Hand-washing Sink: The infant caregivers are using the hand washing sink to wash bottles as well as washing hands. (§746.2405(4); [type](https://www.kinfield.site/violation/tx-tac-746-2405-4)) - 2022-10-05 — Staff qualifications & clearances, Medium risk, Correction verified 2022-10-14: Children's Records - Immunizations: One child's file out of six reviewed is missing a completed immuniztion record. (§746.603(a)(4); [type](https://www.kinfield.site/violation/tx-tac-746-603-a-4)) - 2022-10-05 — Supervision & ratios, Medium-high risk, Correction verified 2022-10-14: Maintenance of Building, Grounds and Equipment: A whole was observed in the wall in the toddler classroom. Paint was observed chipping and peeling in the pre-k and school age classrooms. The wood hand railing into the pre-k and school age building is split causing the wood to separate and pose a risk for splinters, lacerations, and possible entrapment. Note: Pictures were taken for the file. (§746.3407; [type](https://www.kinfield.site/violation/tx-tac-746-3407)) - 2022-07-05 — Staff qualifications & clearances, Medium-high risk, Corrected at inspection: Floors, ceilings and Walls in Good Repair and Clean: The elctrical outlet cover is broken in the school age room. Note: A picture was taken for the file. This was corrected when the director replaced the cover. (§746.3407(9); [type](https://www.kinfield.site/violation/tx-tac-746-3407-9)) ## Nearby programs - [Childrens Social Montessori](https://www.kinfield.site/facility/tx-hhsc-1532295) — 0.28 km, capacity 46 - [The Literacy Learning Lab](https://www.kinfield.site/facility/tx-hhsc-1521503) — 1.6 km, capacity 34 - [Children's Reading College Learning Center](https://www.kinfield.site/facility/tx-hhsc-1432810) — 2.28 km, capacity 56 - [Its Yours Child Care](https://www.kinfield.site/facility/tx-hhsc-1340784) — 2.5 km, capacity 42 - [Shine Bright](https://www.kinfield.site/facility/tx-hhsc-1505653) — 2.58 km, capacity 85 - [Tiny Toes Academy](https://www.kinfield.site/facility/tx-hhsc-409448) — 3.52 km, capacity 126 ## Sources - tx_hhsc_operations record 964228 (verified, retrieved 2026-11-05): https://data.texas.gov/resource/bc5r-88dy.json?operation_id=964228 - us_census_geocoder record 5203 FM 521 RD|ARCOLA|TX|77583 (verified, retrieved 2026-11-05): https://geocoding.geo.census.gov/geocoder/ - tx_twc_subsidy_providers record 1395446 (verified, retrieved 2026-11-06): https://data.texas.gov/resource/wmur-pmzc.json?state_id=1395446 - tx_twc_ccs_facilities record row-89tf.q7cp.cjj7 (historical, retrieved 2026-11-06): https://data.texas.gov/resource/bsvz-ncuc.json?state_id=1395446 - tx_tda_cacfp_centers record 04770-0001 (verified, retrieved 2026-11-06): https://data.texas.gov/resource/py3b-tqc9.json?cesiteid=04770-0001 --- Source page: https://www.kinfield.site/facility/tx-hhsc-964228 · Kinfield — Childcare Intelligence. Facts come from public regulator records; historical inspection data is labelled. Missing data never means no issue exists.