Austin · Licensed center
Hillcrest Childrens Academy
- Large play-based center, licensed for 250 children.
What these mean, and where they come from
Large means the biggest quarter of Austin-area’s 928 licensed centers by state-licensed capacity: 154 to 731 children. Small is 12 to 61; medium is 62 to 153.
How they teach
Play-based
“We strongly believe that learning happens through play.”In their words, July 2026.hillcrestacademy.kids
One of 104 Austin-area providers that describe a play-based approach, out of 226 that describe any approach at all.
Who cares for your child
Ratio not published
Four staff are named on their site, with no start years given.
What it costs
$1,494 a month for an infant
Higher than 14 of 25 Austin-area providers that publish a full-time infant price.
Higher than 21 of 26 Austin-area providers that publish a full-time toddler price.
Higher than 22 of 30 Austin-area providers that publish a full-time preschool price.
Hillcrest Childrens AcademyMost Austin-area prices (middle 80%)
Scale $0 to $4,000 a month. Austin-area prices as of September 29, 2026. Part-time $758 to $1,295 a month. Application fee $150. Sibling discount: registration for second child is $75.00 + their first week tuition. Prices from their website, July 2026.
Shortlist doesn’t have these yet: hours and late pickup, a typical day, sick and biting policies.
What the state has found
This state publishes the visits that cited something but not the ones that cited nothing, so there is no city rate to set this beside.
From Texas HHSC’s published reports, last checked September 25, 2026.
Read every record and the state’s reports
State record — Texas HHSC
- Last visit
- August 5, 2026
- On file
- 3 visits since October 2025 — all of them cited findings · 1 complaint investigation
- Most serious
- High —
A child was left unattended outside for about two minutes.
· February 4, 2026
Texas HHSC describes each deficiency in writing and weights the standard behind it from high to low by the risk a violation presents to children. It publishes no inspection document.
Aug 2026 Licensing visit 4 findings
Licensing visit · August 5, 2026
746.3407 - Maintenance of Building, Grounds and Equipment · Medium High
One classroom has an area of peeling paint on the wall about the size of a dinner plate and the flooring is chipped. The outdoor area has gravel loose fill on the sidewalks and play structure that could pose a fall risk.
746.3819 - Food Allergy Emergency Plan Signed by Parents and Health Care Professional · Medium High
Two allergy action plans were not signed by both the parent and health care provider.
746.5205(4) - Documentation of Drills · Medium
Documentation of Fire Drills were not available for review.
746.801(8) - Required Records Maintained and Made Available - Playground Maintenance Records · Medium
A playground maintenance checklist was not available for review.
May 2026 Licensing visit 1 finding
Licensing visit · May 7, 2026
746.1105(3) - Minimum Qualifications Employees and Caregivers - Affidavit (Form 2985) · Low
Affidavit 2985 was missing from the personnel ffiles.
Feb 2026 Complaint
Complaint · February 4, 2026
Reported to the state by the program
Self-report is Texas HHSC’s own field on its complaint investigation record.
746.1205(a)(4) - Supervision ensures each child?s safety, well-being, including physical proximity and auditory or visual awareness of each child?s on going activity · High
A child was left unattended outside for about two minutes.
Oct 2025 Licensing visit 5 findings
Licensing visit · October 28, 2025
746.4003(a) - First Aid Kit - Incomplete Kit · Medium
The first aid kit did not include the guide to first aid.
746.4135(b) - Children's Products- Annual Certification · Medium
The product safety certification was not available for review.
746.501(a)(1) - Written Operational Policies - Operating Times · Medium
Operational policies did not include all required information, such as promoting indoor/outdoor physical activity, the Abuse Neglect hotline, and the Gang-free zone notification.
746.603(a)(2) - Children's Records - Admission Information · Medium
Admission paperwork did not include all required information, including the emergency contact's address, ER care authorization, health statements, and immunizations.
746.901 - Required Personnel Records · Medium
Personnel files did not include all of the required information, such as, high school diploma, training records and affidavits 2985 and 2912
Details
- Website
- hillcrestacademy.kids
- Address
- 3838 Steck Ave
- License
- 1825596, active
- Ages they serve
- babies to 5th grade
Do you run Hillcrest Childrens Academy? Shortlist has no ratios, policies or daily routine for it, because the state does not publish that. Adding it is free and takes about ten minutes.
Add what is missingSources and dates
Where every fact on this page came from, and when Shortlist last checked it against that source. Anything Shortlist could not source is named here rather than left blank.
How they teach
- Approach — Checked July 2026 hillcrestacademy.kids
Who cares for your child
- Staff hillcrestacademy.kids
What it costs
- Infant, Toddler, Preschool, Second price, Application fee, Sibling discount — Checked July 2026 hillcrestacademy.kids
State record
Every state visit and complaint on file, shown in full and never edited. Open a date to read what the state wrote.
Details
- Phone, Address, License — Checked July 2026 childcare.hhs.texas.gov
- Website — Checked July 2026 hillcrestacademy.kids
- Ages they serve — Checked July 2026 hillcrestacademy.kids