Primrose School at Sterling Ranch

Center · Littleton · 8159 Piney River Ave

What kind of place is this?

Size 180 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.

Who runs it

Chain Primrose Schools
Owner Taurus Capital Partners Owned by private-equity firm Taurus Capital Partners, which acquired Primrose Schools from Roark Capital (Roark held it 2015-2025 and explored a sale in 2024). primroseschools.com

Primrose Schools runs 25 licensed locations in Denver.

How this compares

Colorado Department of Early Childhood cited something at 3 of the 7 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.

Will it fit our family?

Not yet reported: ages served, hours, days / week, schedule, holiday closures.

What will it cost us?

This provider does not publish pricing.

What Shortlist has verified

State quality rating Colorado Shines Level 3
License status Active

State record — Colorado Department of Early Childhood

Last visit
January 6, 2026
On file
7 visits since December 2023 · 7 complaint investigations
Fixed?
The latest correction deadline was January 6, 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.

Jan 2026 Supervisory visit 10 findings

Supervisory visit · January 6, 2026

2.120.D · Correction due January 6, 2026

Reviewed 27 staff files and found 2 staff members to be missing documentation of submission of TRAILS background check.

Required correction: All individuals requiring a background check must review Navigating the Background Check Investigation Unit's (BIU) Webpage powerpoint. Submit verification that 2 staff members have reviewed the powerpoint within 24 hours. Submit documentation of TRAILS background check for 2 staff members with written response to the Specialist. Correct by 01/06/2026

2.212.G

Reviewed 27 staff files and found 7 staff to be missing documentation of an original physical health statement. 8 staff where found to be missing documentation of the signed self-reported annual health history in their file.

2.213.B · Correction due January 6, 2026

Reviewed 27 staff files and found 5 staff to be missing documentation of the standard precautions training.

Required correction: All staff must have a current standard precautions training that is updated annually and maintained in the file. Correct immediately and respond with written statement of compliance. Correct by 01/06/2026

2.213.C · Correction due January 6, 2026

Reviewed 27 staff files and found 3 staff to be missing documentation of the infant safe sleep training.

Required correction: All staff must have a current infant safe sleep training that is updated annually and maintained in the file. Correct immediately and respond with written statement of compliance. Correct by 01/06/2026

2.213.D · Correction due January 6, 2026

Reviewed 27 staff files and found 2 staff to be missing documentation of the Shaken baby/abusive head trauma training.

Required correction: All staff must have a current Shaken Baby/Abusive Head Trauma training that is updated every 2 years and maintained in the file. Correct immediately and respond with written statement of compliance. Correct by 01/06/2026

2.213.G · Correction due January 6, 2026

Reviewed 27 staff files and found 4 staff to be missing documentation of the Child Abuse Prevention training.

Required correction: All staff must have a current Child Abuse Prevention training that is updated annually and maintained in the file. Correct immediately and respond with written statement of compliance. Correct by 01/06/2026

2.213.N · Correction due January 6, 2026

Staff designated to review children's immunizations did not have the current Child Immunizations Records training.

Required correction: All staff designated to review children's immunizations must have a current Child Immunizations Records training that is updated annually and maintained in the file. Correct immediately and respond with written statement of compliance. Correct by 01/06/2026

2.219.B.2

Reviewed 16 children's files and found 1 children to be missing documentation of the physicians medical statement.

2.121.J.1 · Correction due January 6, 2026

Reviewed 27 staff files and found 2 staff members to be missing documentation of submission of out-of-state background checks.

Required correction: All individuals requiring a background check must review Navigating the Background Check Investigation Unit's (BIU) Webpage powerpoint. Submit verification that the 2 staff members have reviewed the powerpoint within 24 hours. Submit documentation of Out of State background check and Clearance Letters for the 2 staff members. Correct immediately with written response to the Specialist. Correct by 01/06/2026

2.121.D

Reviewed 27 staff files and found 2 staff members to be missing documentation of the FBI cleance letter.

Required correction: All individuals requiring a background check must review Navigating the Background Check Investigation Unit's (BIU) Webpage powerpoint. Submit verification that the 2 staff members have reviewed the powerpoint within 24 hours. Submit documentation of FBI clearance letter for the 2 staff members with written response to the Specialist. Correct by

State records file

Feb 2025 Supervisory visit 6 findings

Supervisory visit · February 19, 2025

2.220.A · Correction due February 19, 2025

Reviewed medications kept on site and found two children to have expired written orders and two children to be missing medications prescribed on the orders.

Required correction: All medications kept on site must have current written orders from a health care provider and all prescribed medications must be provided. Correct immediately and respond with statement of compliance. Correct by 02/19/2025

2.212.G

Reviewed 32 staff files and found Tara R, Liz J-M, and Elena A to be missing health statements that are signed and dated by a physician or health care provider.

2.213.G · Correction due February 19, 2025

Reviewed 32 staff files and found Lydia M to have an expired Child Abuse Prevention training.

Required correction: All staff must complete Child Abuse Prevention training within 30 days of hire and renew the training annually. Correct immediately and provide documentation with written response. Correct by 02/19/2025

2.213.B · Correction due February 19, 2025

Reviewed 32 staff files and found Liz J-M and Lydia M to have expired Standard Precautions trainings.

Required correction: All staff must take Standard Precautions training prior to working with children, and renew the training annually. Correct and provide documentation of completion with written response. Correct by 02/19/2025

2.120.J

Reviewed 32 staff files and found Rylee B, Madison E and Madalyn N to be missing documentation of their TRAILS clearance letters.

Required correction: Trails letters must be maintained by the program for review. All individuals requiring a background check must review Navigating the Background Check Investigation Unit's (BIU)

2.121.D · Correction due February 19, 2025

Reviewed 32 staff files and found Gabrielle G to be missing documentation of a CBI clearance letter.

Required correction: CBI clearance letters must be available for review. All individuals requiring a background check must review Navigating the Background Check Investigation Unit's (BIU) Webpage powerpoint. Submit verification that Gabrielle G has viewed the point within 24 hours. Submit documentation of their CBI Clearance Letter for Gabrielle G with written response to the Specialist. Correct by 02/19/2025

State records file

Nov 2024 Limited Supervisory visit report not read State records file
Oct 2024 Limited Supervisory visit report not read State records file
Jun 2024 Complaint 3 findings

Complaint · June 12, 2024

2.217.A.8.b · Correction due June 12, 2024

Identified through staff file review that the staff member covering a nap break of 4/4/24 was an Aide and was not qualified to be alone.

Required correction: Staff covering nap breaks must be qualified as an assistant teacher. Correct immediately and respond with statement of compliance. Correct by 06/12/2024 Complaint Allegation :

2.229.C · Correction due June 12, 2024

There was a bag of potting soil labeled "keep out of reach of children" in the stairwell leading to the playground.

Required correction: Items labeled keep out of reach of children must be inaccessible to children. **Corrected at the time of the inspection, potting soil was removed from the building.** No response is required. Correct by 06/12/2024 Complaint Allegation : RP states that CH2 does not have media authorization to post pictures and their photo was posted on school's social media page. - FOUNDED

2.209.A.9 · Correction due June 12, 2024

Identified through child file review and social media review that a child who did not have authorization for media release did have a picture posted on the programs social media.

Required correction: Program must follow the permissions granted by families for media release. **Corrected at the time of the inspection, photo was removed from social media.** No response is requried. Correct by 06/12/2024

State records file

Jun 2024 Complaint Founded

Complaint · June 12, 2024

Founded

The state lists this complaint on the provider’s record and publishes an investigation report for it. Shortlist has not read that report, so this row includes no citation detail.

State records file

May 2024 Complaint Unfounded

Complaint · May 14, 2024

Unfounded

The state lists this complaint on the provider’s record and publishes an investigation report for it. Shortlist has not read that report, so this row includes no citation detail.

State records file

May 2024 Complaint Unfounded

Complaint · May 14, 2024

Unfounded

The state lists this complaint on the provider’s record and publishes an investigation report for it. Shortlist has not read that report, so this row includes no citation detail.

State records file

Mar 2024 Complaint Unfounded

Complaint · March 13, 2024

Unfounded

The state lists this complaint on the provider’s record and publishes an investigation report for it. Shortlist has not read that report, so this row includes no citation detail.

State records file

Mar 2024 Supervisory visit 5 findings

Supervisory visit · March 13, 2024

2.213.B · Correction due March 13, 2024

Reviewed 28 staff files and found Lisa to have an expired Standard Precautions training .

Required correction: All staff must complete Standard Precautions training prior to working with children and renew the training annually. Correct immediately and respond with documentation of compliance with written response. Correct by 03/13/2024

2.212.G

Reviewed 28 staff files and found Kelly to have an expired health statement.

2.219.B.2 · Correction due April 13, 2024

Reviewed 12 child files and found one child to have a health statement with no date of when the last physical occured.

Required correction: Child health statements must include the date when the physical occcured. Correct and respond with statement of compliance. Correct by 04/13/2024

2.209.A.7 · Correction due March 13, 2024

Reviewed 12 child files and observed 2 to have expired emergency medical authorizations.

Required correction: Immediately obtain documentation of current emergency medical authorizations for children. Correct and respond with statement of compliance. Correct by 03/13/2024

Reviewed medications and observed 1 emergency medication missing that was listed on a child's health care

State records file

Feb 2024 Complaint Unfounded

Complaint · February 14, 2024

Unfounded

The state lists this complaint on the provider’s record and publishes an investigation report for it. Shortlist has not read that report, so this row includes no citation detail.

State records file

Feb 2024 Complaint Unfounded

Complaint · February 14, 2024

Unfounded

The state lists this complaint on the provider’s record and publishes an investigation report for it. Shortlist has not read that report, so this row includes no citation detail.

State records file

Jan 2024 Limited Supervisory visit report not read State records file
Dec 2023 Limited Supervisory visit report not read 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 1, 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 Primrose School at Sterling Ranch’s file specifically, instead of waiting for the next one.

Before you tour

Primrose School at Sterling Ranch hasn’t published

Cost, hours and late pickup, a typical day, sick and biting policies.

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

Not yet reported: established, teaching approach.

Who runs it

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 Primrose School at Sterling Ranch? 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.