Thornton · Licensed center
La Petite Academy
At a glance
- Medium play-based center, licensed for 109 children.
- Hours 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., 5 days a week, year round.
- La Petite Academy: owned by American Securities (private equity).
What to know
The license is the range the state allows. It does not say which ages have openings.
What the state has found
The state lists 3 visits below. Shortlist has not read the reports behind them, so there is no share of visits that cited something to set beside other providers yet.
State record — Colorado Department of Early Childhood
- Last visit
- May 7, 2026
- On file
- 3 visits since July 2024
- Fixed?
- The latest correction deadline was June 7, 2026. Colorado Department of Early Childhood does not publish whether it was made.
- Most serious
- Colorado Department of Early Childhood does not publish a severity level for a citation, so there is no most-serious to name.
Colorado’s Department of Early Childhood lists each program’s complaints on its Colorado Shines page, with the department’s verdict on each and, where it publishes one, a report behind it, going back about three years. Older complaints are released only on request. The department does not rank complaints by severity in either place.
May 2026 Supervisory visit 7 findings
Supervisory visit · May 7, 2026
2.213.G · Correction due May 7, 2026
Reviewed 7 staff files. One staff missing documentation of a current child abuse prevention training.
Required correction: Immediately, the child abuse prevention training must be renewed annually. Submit documentation and a written statement of compliance to the licensing specialist. Correct by 05/07/2026
2.219.B.1
Reviewed 8 child files. 2 immunization records submitted on the incorrect form, and one immunization record missing from the child's file.
2.219.B.2 · Correction due June 7, 2026
Reviewed 8 child files. 2 children missing written health statements from a health care provider.
Required correction: Within the first 30 days of admission, a health statement from a health care provider must be submitted to the facility. Submit a written statement of compliance to the licensing specialist. Correct by 06/07/2026
2.219.B.4
Reviewed 8 child files. All 6 children missing updated health statements.
Required correction: All children must have updated health statements in accordance with the AAP recommendations. Submit a
2.230.C.1.c · Correction due May 7, 2026
Identified the mulch on all playgrounds is not being raked and fluffed regularly to retain resiliency.
Required correction: Immediately, loose fill resilient surface must be raked regularly to retain resilience. Submit a written statement of compliance to the licensing specialist. Correct by 05/07/2026
2.230.C.1.a · Correction due May 7, 2026
On the Early Preschool/Twos playground, the climbing equipment and slides lacking 6 inches of resilient surface in the use zone.
Required correction: Immediately, all climbing equipment must have resilient surfacing of at least 6 inches in the use zone at all times. Submit photo documentation and a written statement of compliance to the licensing specialist. Correct by 05/07/2026
2.237.B · Correction due May 7, 2026
On the Early Preschool/Twos playground, a fence slat was warped and coming off the fence creating a safety hazard for children.
Required correction: Immediately, buildings must be kept in good repair and maintained in a safe condition at all times. Submit photo documentation and a written statement of compliance to the licensing specialist. Correct by 05/07/2026
Jun 2025 Supervisory visit 15 findings
Supervisory visit · June 12, 2025
2.206.A · Correction due June 12, 2025
Reviewed eight children's records and observed one child's record to be missing documentation of the required signed document stating that the parental or guardian have received and agreed to the policies and procedures.
Required correction: Obtain documentation of the required signed document stating that the parental or guardian have received and agreed to the policies and procedures for all children's records. Correct immediately by 6.12.2025, and submit a written statement of compliance to the Specialist by 7.12.2025. Correct by 06/12/2025
2.219.B.4
Reviewed eight children's records and observed eight children to be missing and or have expired health statements.
2.209.A.7 · Correction due June 12, 2025
Reviewed eight children's records and observed six of those records to be missing documentation of current emergency medical authorizations, posing a potential safety hazard.
Required correction: Obtain current emergency medical authorizations for all children's records. Correct immediately by 6.12.2025, and submit a written statement of compliance to the Specialist by 7.12.2025. Correct by 06/12/2025
2.213.B · Correction due June 12, 2025
Reviewed seven staff records and observed four staff members D. W. (DOH 8.26.1991), R.M. (5.2023), V.C. (DOH 2.21.2021), and P.B. (DOH 8.8.2024 to be missing documentation of the required Standard Precautions training.
Required correction: Obtain the required Standard Precautions training for all staff members as required. Correct immediately by 6.12.2025, and submit a written statement of compliance to the Specialist by 7.12.2025. Correct by 06/12/2025
2.213.F
Reviewed seven staff records and observed two staff members R. M. (5.2023) and V.C. (DOH 2.21.2021) to be missing documentation of the required first aid and CPR module.
2.213.G · Correction due June 12, 2025
Reviewed seven staff records and observed four staff members K. H. (DOH 12.18.2018), D.W. (DOH 8.26.1991), R.M. (5.2023), and P.B. (DOH 8.8.2024 to be missing documentation of the required Child Abuse Prevention training.
Required correction: Obtain the required Child Abuse Prevention training for all staff members as required. Correct immediately by 6.12.2025, and submit a written statement of compliance to the Specialist by 7.12.2025. Correct by 06/12/2025
2.219.B.1
Reviewed eight children's records and observed four children to be missing documentation of the required immunization record.
2.120.C.1.a · Correction due June 12, 2025
Reviewed seven staff records and observed one staff member P. R. (DOH 8.8.2024)and K.H. (DOH 12.18.2018) to be missing documentation of the required Trails background check.
Required correction: Obtain Trails background checks for all staff as required. Correct immediately by 6.12.2025, and submit a written statement of compliance and documentation of the background to the Specialist by 7.12.2025. Correct by 06/12/2025
2.220.K · Correction due June 12, 2025
Reviewed eight children's records and observed two children to be missing documentation of the required topical preparation permission.
Required correction: Obtain the required topical preparations for all children's records. Correct immediately by 6.12.2025, and submit a written statement of compliance to the Specialist by 7.12.2025. Correct by 06/12/2025
2.229.C · Correction due June 12, 2025
Saline solution and shave cream labeled "keep out of reach of children" in the preschool classroom and accessible to children.
Required correction: Items labeled "keep out of reach of children must be inaccessible to children". Corrected at the time of the inspection. The Assistant Director removed the items from within reach of children. No response required. Correct by 06/12/2025
2.213.N · Correction due July 12, 2025
Identified that the Director is responsible for collecting and reviewing immunization records and observed the required immunization training to be missing.
Required correction: Obtain the required immunization training for staff who are responsible for collection review, and maintenance of immunization records. Correct by 7.12.2025 and submit a written statement of compliance to the Specialist. Correct by 07/12/2025
2.226.C.2 · Correction due June 12, 2025
The school-age classroom to be supervised by two staff members who are not early childhood teacher qualified, posing a potential safety hazard.
Required correction: Each group of children must be supervised by someone who is early childhood teacher qualified. Correct immediately by 6.12.2025, and submit a written statement of compliance to the Specialist by 7.12.2025. Correct by 06/12/2025
2.121.J.1 · Correction due June 12, 2025
Identified through the out of state background check list that staff member P. B. (DOH 8.8.2024) lived outside of the state of Colorado in the last five years. Observed documentation of the required out of state background clearance letter to be missing.
Required correction: Obtain the required background checks for all staff members as required. Correct immediately by 6.12.2025, and submit a written statement of compliance and documentation of the background check to the Specialist by 7.12.2025. Correct by 06/12/2025
2.138.A · Correction due June 12, 2025
Documentation of emergency drills were unavailable for March and April 2025.
Required correction: Emergency drills must be practiced as required. Correct immediately by 6.12.2025, and submit a written statement of compliance to the Specialist by 7.12.2025. Correct by 06/12/2025
2.122.A
The most recent fire inspection failed the inspection posing a potential safety hazard.
Jul 2024 Supervisory visit 4 findings
Supervisory visit · July 22, 2024
2.213.B · Correction due July 22, 2024
Reviewed 11 staff files and identified Z.J. to have expired Department Approved Standard Precautions training certificate. (6/30/2024)
Required correction: Obtain current Department Approved Standard Precautions certificates for all staff and maintain in staff files. Correct immediately or prior to working with children Correct by 07/22/2024
2.213.G · Correction due August 22, 2024
Reviewed 11 staff files and identified Z.J. (6/30/2024) and A.K. (5/2024) to have expired Department Approved training about Child Abuse Prevention certificate.
Required correction: Obtain current Department approved Child Abuse Prevention certificate for all staff and maintain in staff files. Correct by 08/22/2024
2.219.B.1 · Correction due July 22, 2024
Reviewed 7 children files and observed 2 files to be missing proof of Immunizations.
Required correction: Obtain current proof of immunizations for all children and maintain in child files. Correct immediately Correct by 07/22/2024
2.219.B.2 · Correction due August 22, 2024
Reviewed 7 children files and observed five files to be missing current health statements.
Required correction: Obtain current health statements for all children and maintain in child files. Correct by 08/22/2024
Where this record comes from
The Department of Early Childhood keeps about three years of complaints on a program’s public page. Anything older is released only on request, as a single file covering the whole state. Shortlist asked for that file under the Colorado Open Records Act and renews it yearly; it is what this page shows for complaints older than the department’s own window.
The file this page is built from arrived on November 8, 2026 and covers complaints the department publishes today, and complaints back to January 2023 obtained by records request. The next request goes in November 2027.
The department publishes a report for each of these visits. Shortlist has not read those reports yet, so this page shows when the state came and not what it found.
Ask for this program’s record now
The department will also review one program’s complete file on request, which is more than either source above contains. Leave your email and Shortlist will ask for La Petite Academy’s file specifically, instead of waiting for the next one.
Shortlist replaces people’s names in the state’s text with initials. This is done by rule, not by hand, so it can miss a name or shorten a word that isn’t one. The state’s report, linked on each row, has the original.
A day here
6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., 5 days a week, year round
Meals, updates for parents, schedule and one more
- Meals
- Tuition includes nutritious meals and snacks; for infants, tuition may include diapers and wipes (all La Petite Academy schools)
- Updates for parents
- SproutAbout family communication app — live streaming video of the classroom plus real-time updates
- Schedule
- Part-time (all La Petite Academy schools)
- Closed
- 7 holidays and breaks a year
Dates
New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, the day after Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day; closed for in-service training on Presidents' Day and Columbus Day (all La Petite Academy schools)
How they teach
Play-based
“Learn as We Grow ® uses hands-on, play-based, and inquiry-driven experiences that cultivate children's future-ready skills.”
Who cares for your child
Kristien Humphries (Director), 13 years in early childhood.
Details
- Address
- 3900 E 124th Ave, Thornton, 80241
- License
- 47011
- Quality program
- Colorado Shines Level 4
We couldn’t find some information that may matter to your decision: openings, child care subsidies, cost, and sick and biting policies. We can ask the program for you and copy you in.
Sources 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 lapetite.com
Who cares for your child
- Staff lapetite.com
A day here
- Meals, Schedule — Checked July 2026 lapetite.com
- Updates for parents, Hours — Checked July 2026 lapetite.com
- Calendar, Closed — Checked July 2026 lapetite.com/…/ilcg101-enrollment-packet-lpa.pdf
Details
- Website — Checked July 2026 lapetite.com
- Address, License — Checked July 2026 data.colorado.gov
- Quality program — Checked April 2026 data.colorado.gov
- Ages they serve — Checked July 2026 lapetite.com
- Who runs it — Checked October 2026 lapetite.com
- Who runs it — Checked October 2026 american-securities.com
La Petite Academy is one of Learning Care Group's brands. The private-equity firm American Securities lists Learning Care Group among its current companies, an investment it made in 2014. american-securities.com
Medium means the middle half of Denver-area’s 1,145 licensed centers by state-licensed capacity: 41 to 114 children. Small is 8 to 40; large is 115 to 320.