LIFE BYVardellChildcare
Report

TheVardellReport

The Preparatory School of Dripping Springs

Licensed child care center

12610 Nutty Brown Rd
Austin, TX 78737

Report Date
Nov 1, 2026
Data Through
Oct 31, 2026
Report ID
VR-TX-1496472-2611
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The Vardell Report.The Preparatory School of Dripping Springs

The deeper story, beautifully organized. Available records, historical context, and questions worth asking.

Provider Category
Childcare
Location
Austin, TX
Record Period
2021–2026
Source Documents
20
Read the report

This report is free. Vardell does not certify, grade or endorse; it shows what the record documents.

01

The Essentials

Summary

Across 19 licensing visits from September 2021 to August 2026, HHSC cited 5 deficiencies at The Preparatory School of Dripping Springs; 5 have a recorded correction.

Visits
19
2021–2026, inspections, investigations and assessments
Deficiencies
5
Standards cited by HHSC inspectors
Corrected
5
Of 5 deficiencies, with a recorded correction date
Investigations
7
Licensing investigations, whatever prompted them

Deficiencies by Year

  • Deficiencies
  • Of which, high risk
2021: 0 deficiencies across 1 visit020211 visit2022: 0 deficiencies across 1 visit020221 visit2023: 0 deficiencies across 3 visits020233 visits2024: 0 deficiencies across 1 visit020241 visit2025: 3 deficiencies across 5 visits; of which, high risk: 2320255 visits2026: 2 deficiencies across 8 visits; of which, high risk: 222026*8 visits2021: 0 deficiencies across 1 visit020211 visit2022: 0 deficiencies across 1 visit020221 visit2023: 0 deficiencies across 3 visits020233 visits2024: 0 deficiencies across 1 visit020241 visit2025: 3 deficiencies across 5 visits; of which, high risk: 2320255 visits2026: 2 deficiencies across 8 visits; of which, high risk: 222026*8 visits

* Partial year, through October 31, 2026.

Deficiencies by year
YearVisitsDeficienciesOf which, high risk
2021100
2022100
2023300
2024100
2025532
2026822

What the Record Shows

  • 5 of 5 deficiencies have a recorded correction date.
  • HHSC’s files name no enforcement action in this window. They say whether a program is under corrective or adverse action, not what the action was.
  • 7 visits in this window included an investigation. HHSC publishes what an investigation cited, not what the report to it alleged.
  • The latest inspection, August 18, 2026, recorded no deficiencies.
02

Chronology

Inspection History

Every visit in the record window, newest first. A deficiency is a licensing standard Texas inspectors found was not met. HHSC publishes what an investigation cited, not what the report to it alleged.

  1. 2026

    Inspection

    No deficiencies

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905090767

  2. 2026

    Investigation

    1 deficiency

    • 746.305(a)(6)Report Situation Placing Children at RiskHigh riskCorrected Sep 17, 2026

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905216292

  3. 2026

    Inspection

    No deficiencies

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905090766

  4. 2026

    Inspection

    No deficiencies

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905090765

  5. 2026

    Inspection

    No deficiencies

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905090764

  6. 2026

    Investigation

    No deficiencies

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905216291

  7. 2026

    Inspection

    No deficiencies

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905090763

  8. 2026

    Investigation

    1 deficiency

    • 746.305(a)(6)Report Situation Placing Children at RiskHigh riskCorrected Apr 21, 2026

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905216290

  9. 2025

    Inspection

    No deficiencies

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905090762

  10. 2025

    Inspection

    No deficiencies

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905090761

  11. 2025

    Investigation

    1 deficiency

    Opened on a report the operation made itself.

    • 746.707Incident/Illness Report Form Shared with ParentMedium riskCorrected Jul 18, 2025

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905216289

  12. 2025

    Inspection

    No deficiencies

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905090760

  13. 2025

    Investigation

    2 deficiencies

    Opened on a report the operation made itself.

    • 746.2805(3)Prohibited Punishments - Grabbing and PullingHigh riskCorrected Jun 27, 2025
    • 746.1201(2)Responsibilities of Employees and Caregivers -Relate to ChildrenHigh riskCorrected Jun 27, 2025

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905216288

  14. 2024

    Inspection

    No deficiencies

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905090759

  15. 2023

    Inspection

    No deficiencies

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905090758

  16. 2023

    Inspection

    No deficiencies

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905090757

  17. 2023

    Investigation

    No deficiencies

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905216287

  18. 2022

    Inspection

    No deficiencies

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905090756

  19. 2021

    Investigation

    No deficiencies

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905216286

Texas gives every licensing standard one of five risk levels, from low to high, by how likely a deficiency is to harm a child.

03

Context

Patterns Worth Examining

A repeated citation can merit attention, but context and corrective action must be reviewed before drawing a conclusion.

  1. 1

    Report Situation Placing Children at Risk, Cited in Two Visits

    HHSC inspectors cited 746.305(a)(6) in March 2026 and August 2026. The agency describes it this way: Report Situation Placing Children at Risk. The most serious of these was recorded at high risk. Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.

    21222323232425252525252626262626262626746.305(a)(6) across all 19 visits, oldest to newest
04

For Your Next Visit

Questions to Ask on Your Visit

Bring these to the tour. Each one comes from something in the record; the reason is under the question.

  1. 01

    What changed after 746.305(a)(6) was cited, and how do you check it now?

    Report Situation Placing Children at Risk: cited in two visits, including high-risk standards.

  2. 02

    What is the ratio in the room my child would join, and how is every child accounted for at nap time, pickup and on the playground?

    Ratios change through the day, so they are worth counting yourself on a visit.

  3. 03

    Has the center ever been under corrective or adverse action, and what changed afterward?

    HHSC’s files name no enforcement action in this window. They say whether a program is under corrective or adverse action, not what the action was.

05

The Evidence

Sources and Coverage

Program details, licensing visits and the deficiencies cited at each are published by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission's Child Care Regulation in its daily files on data.texas.gov.

  • Child Care Licensing operations (data.texas.gov)

    Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 1496472

    Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

    View Dataset ↗
  • Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)

    Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905216286

    Visit Sep 16, 2021 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

    View Dataset ↗
  • Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)

    Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905090756

    Visit Sep 9, 2022 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

    View Dataset ↗
  • Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)

    Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905216287

    Visit Jun 23, 2023 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

    View Dataset ↗
  • Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)

    Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905090757

    Visit Jun 26, 2023 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

    View Dataset ↗
  • Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)

    Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905090758

    Visit Aug 7, 2023 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

    View Dataset ↗
  • Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)

    Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905090759

    Visit Jul 10, 2024 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

    View Dataset ↗
  • Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)

    Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905216288

    Visit Apr 16, 2025 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

    View Dataset ↗
  • Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)

    Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905090760

    Visit Apr 28, 2025 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

    View Dataset ↗
  • Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)

    Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905216289

    Visit May 14, 2025 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

    View Dataset ↗
  • Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)

    Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905090761

    Visit Jun 25, 2025 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

    View Dataset ↗
  • Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)

    Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905090762

    Visit Jul 10, 2025 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

    View Dataset ↗
  • Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)

    Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905216290

    Visit Mar 24, 2026 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

    View Dataset ↗
  • Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)

    Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905090763

    Visit Mar 30, 2026 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

    View Dataset ↗
  • Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)

    Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905216291

    Visit May 4, 2026 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

    View Dataset ↗
  • Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)

    Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905090764

    Visit May 5, 2026 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

    View Dataset ↗
  • Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)

    Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905090765

    Visit Jun 23, 2026 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

    View Dataset ↗
  • Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)

    Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905090766

    Visit Jul 10, 2026 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

    View Dataset ↗
  • Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)

    Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905216292

    Visit Aug 14, 2026 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

    View Dataset ↗
  • Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)

    Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905090767

    Visit Aug 18, 2026 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

    View Dataset ↗

Coverage

Record windowSeptember 16, 2021 – October 31, 2026

  • This record is HHSC's list of operations as of October 2026, with the inspections, investigations and assessments in HHSC's files, which run from November 2021.
  • Listed family homes (one caregiver with up to three unrelated children, listed with HHSC but not inspected on a schedule) are not in this record.
  • HHSC's narrative for each deficiency is left out because it can name children, parents and staff; the rule cited, its risk level and the correction dates are kept.

What This Report Cannot Tell You

Inspector narratives
Published by HHSC but left out of this record because they can name people.
Enforcement actions
HHSC's files say whether an operation is under corrective or adverse action, not what the action was.
Complaints not investigated
Reports HHSC screened out without an investigation are not published.
Staff qualifications and turnover
Not part of the published licensing record.

Historical coverage varies by agency and location. Missing records do not mean that no complaint or violation occurred.

Data architecture: Cierto supplies the source-backed machine-readable bundle. Life by Vardell independently creates the narrative, design, and consumer report.