Mission Hills Early Learning Center

Center · Littleton · 620 Southpark Dr

What kind of place is this?

Size 163 children licensed Larger than the middle half of Denver centers, where the middle half licenses 40–113. Measured across 1,156 Denver centers, 2026-08-17.
Established 1982
Approach play-based, creative-curriculum

In the program’s own words

“MHELC Curriculum is a blend of play-based learning and creative curriculum philosophies.” preschool.missionhills.org, July 2026
“MHELC Curriculum is a blend of play-based learning and creative curriculum philosophies.” preschool.missionhills.org, July 2026

How this compares

Colorado Department of Early Childhood cited something at 3 of the 4 visits below. Across Denver centers it cites something at about 55% of visits. Each state decides what gets written up, so this compares Denver with Denver and never with another state.

Who will be with our child?

Toddler 1 teacher to 6 children Rooms of 12
Preschool 1 teacher to 8 children Rooms of 16

Will it fit our family?

Ages served 2 to 5 years (Pre-K)
Hours 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Schedule Half-day (9:00 AM–1:00 PM), offered as a 2-Day, 3-Day, 4-Day, or 5-Day program
Holiday closures Closed for Teacher Workday (ECCDA Conference), Thanksgiving Break, Christmas Break (Dec 18–Jan 5), MLK Day, President's Day, Spring Break, and Easter Monday; last day of school May 27

What will it cost us?

Monthly tuition $240–$555
Part-time $240–$450/mo
Application fee $165
Sibling discount 15% discount for families with more than one child in the preschool program

What Shortlist has verified

State quality rating Colorado Shines Level 3
License status Active

State record — Colorado Department of Early Childhood

Last visit
February 18, 2026
On file
4 visits since September 2023 — 1 cited nothing
Fixed?
The latest correction deadline was February 18, 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 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.

Feb 2026 Supervisory visit 3 findings

Supervisory visit · February 18, 2026

2.223.A.2 · Correction due February 18, 2026

At the time of visit in the pink room, there were 12 children present and 11 children signed in to the program.

Required correction: Correct immediately, attendance verification must be accurate at all times. Correted at the time of visit, the child was signed into the program. No written statement of compliance needed. Correct by 02/18/2026

2.230.B · Correction due February 18, 2026

At the time of visit in the toddler pink room, the changing tables seat belt is broken.

Required correction: Correct immediately, the changing equipment must be in good operation in accordance with the manufactures recommendations. Submit a written statement of compliance by 3/18/26 Correct by 02/18/2026

At the time of visit in the Pink, Purple, Orange and Green rooms had numerous play equipment and materiasl

State records file

Feb 2025 Supervisory visit nothing cited State records file
Apr 2024 Supervisory visit 5 findings

Supervisory visit · April 25, 2024

2.217.A.15 · Correction due April 25, 2024

On the playground, observed the Orange class and Yellow class together. The Orange class had 17 Pre-K children and the Yellow class had 15 Pre-K children making a total of 32 children, exceeding the maximum group size.

Required correction: Immediately, the maximum group size for Pre-K children must not exceed 24 children. Corrected at the time of visit, the two classes returned inside, rectifying the situation. Submit a written statement of future compliance by 5/25/2024. Correct by 04/25/2024

Reviewed 12 child files. Observed 11 missing current signed document stating the parent(s)/guardian(s) have received the policies and procedures.

2.209.A.8 · Correction due April 25, 2024

Reviewed 12 child files. Observed 12 missing written authorization from the parent/guardian for a child to participate in field trips.

Required correction: Prior to the time of a child's admission, written authorization must be obtained for a child to participate in field trips, whether walking or riding in an approved vehicle. Submit a written statement of compliance by 5/25/2024. Correct by 04/25/2024

2.213.F

Reviewed 14 staff files. Observed Jennifer D., hired October 2023, missing documentation of the CPR and First Aid module.

Required correction: Within thirty (30) calendar days of employment, all employees must complete the Department-approved

2.213.D · Correction due April 25, 2024

Reviewed 14 staff files. Observed Cathy C. working with children ages 2-3 years old, missing documentation of a shaking baby/abusive head trauma training.

Required correction: Prior to working with children less than three (3) years of age, all staff must complete a Department-approved prevention of shaken baby/abusive head trauma training. Submit documentation and a written statement of compliance by 5/25/2024. Correct by 04/25/2024

State records file

Sep 2023 Supervisory visit 3 findings

Supervisory visit · September 15, 2023

7.702.42.A · Correction due September 15, 2023

Reviewed 18 staff files. Observed 18 staff files missing documentation of a pre-service Building and Physical Premises Safety training.

Required correction: Immediately, all staff must complete a pre-service Building and Physical Premises Safety training prior to working with children. Submit documentation and a written statement of compliance by 9/29/2023 Correct by 09/15/2023

7.702.46.C.6

Reviewed the Child Care Health Consultant's file. Observed missing documentation of a brief biography.

7.702.72.F · Correction due September 15, 2023

In the Gray multipurpose room, observed two (2) trampolines on the floor accessible to children.

Required correction: Immediately, trampolines are prohibited. Corrected at the time of visit the Director Shelley removed them. Submit a written statement of future compliance by 9/29/2023. Correct by 09/15/2023

State records file

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 September 13, 2026 and covers complaints the department publishes today, and complaints back to January 2023 obtained by records request. The next request goes in September 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 Mission Hills Early Learning Center’s file specifically, instead of waiting for the next one.

Before you tour

Ask which of these findings were serious, and what changed.Colorado Department of Early Childhood publishes a correction deadline, never whether the work was done or how serious it was.

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.

What kind of place is this

Who will be with our child

Will it fit our family

Not yet reported: days / week.

What will it cost us

Pricing per provider website, checked July 2026.

Licensing and contact

State record

Every state visit and complaint on file, shown in full and never edited. Open a date to read what the state wrote.

Do you run Mission Hills Early Learning Center? Shortlist has no tuition, hours or ratios for it, because the state does not publish that. Add what is missing. It is free and takes about ten minutes.