Western Hills Academy

524 THUNDERBIRD DR, El Paso, TX 79912 · El Paso County

8cited violations

3serious

14inspections & investigations

1enforcement actions

Program

Type: Licensed center
Licensed capacity: 90
Ages: Infant, Toddler, Pre-Kindergarten, School
Hours: 07:30 AM-05:30 PM
Director / administrator: Christel Mendoza
Phone: (915) 584-6642
Regulated since: Oct 23, 1985
HHSC IDs: Operation 96278 · number 119560
Official record: HHSC Child Care Search

Violations by category

Supervision & ratios 5
Discipline & child guidance 1
Staff background & training 1
Other 1

Year by year

Year	Violations	Serious	Main categories
2026	1	0	Supervision & ratios (1)
2025	2	2	Supervision & ratios (1), Discipline & child guidance (1)
2024	1	0	Supervision & ratios (1)
2023	2	1	Supervision & ratios (1), Other (1)
2022	2	0	Supervision & ratios (1), Staff background & training (1)

Enforcement actions

Seen Oct 1, 2026 — Conditions on permit (HHSC operation record)

HHSC publishes these as current flags on the operation, not as dated actions. The date shown is when this site first saw the flag. The HHSC Child Care Search has the details.

Inspections, investigations & assessments

Aug 7, 2026 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
- Supervision & ratios
  The operation had an expired gas inspection on file. It expired on
  
  HHSC 746.5401 — Requirement of Gas Leak Inspection
  
  HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2026-08-14. Correction verified 2026-08-26.
HHSC inspection history
Aug 8, 2025 Inspection · No deficiencies cited

No violations cited on this visit.

HHSC inspection history
Feb 26, 2025 Inspection · No deficiencies cited

No violations cited on this visit.

HHSC inspection history
Feb 11, 2025 Inspection · No deficiencies cited

No violations cited on this visit.

HHSC inspection history
Feb 6, 2025 Report · Deficiencies cited
- Discipline & child guidance Serious
  A caregiver spanked a child in care. This caregiver pulled the child by the arm during a diaper change and yelled at the child.
  
  HHSC 746.2805(1) — Prohibited Punishments - Corporal Punishment
  
  HHSC risk weight: High. Corrected 2025-02-19. Correction verified 2025-02-26.
- Supervision & ratios Serious
  A child in care was spanked while in care. This is a non-routine situation that placed, or may have placed, the child at risk for injury or harm. The operation was aware of this incident and did not notify the parent of the child immediately.
  
  HHSC 746.307(b)(4) — Parental Communication - Situation that Placed a Child at Risk
  
  HHSC risk weight: High. Corrected 2025-02-19. Correction verified 2025-02-26.
HHSC inspection history
Aug 22, 2024 Inspection · No deficiencies cited

No violations cited on this visit.

HHSC inspection history
Jan 17, 2024 Assessment · Deficiencies cited
- Supervision & ratios
  The operation did not report the number of employees no longer working in 2023.
  
  HHSC 746.303(b) — Report Number of Employees
  
  HHSC risk weight: Medium Low. Corrected 2024-01-19. Correction verified 2024-01-17.
HHSC inspection history
Dec 20, 2023 Inspection · No deficiencies cited

No violations cited on this visit.

HHSC inspection history
Nov 29, 2023 Inspection · No deficiencies cited

No violations cited on this visit.

HHSC inspection history
Nov 19, 2023 Report · Deficiencies cited (self-report)
- Supervision & ratios Serious
  An incident involving a child being left unattended at the operation was found to be deficient.
  
  HHSC 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
  
  HHSC risk weight: High. Corrected 2023-12-15. Correction verified 2023-12-20.
HHSC inspection history
Sep 22, 2023 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
- Other
  The gas leak inspection expired as of 1/25/2023.
  
  HHSC 746.5401 — Requirement of Gas Leak Inspection
  
  HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2023-10-06. Correction verified 2023-10-05.
HHSC inspection history
Dec 6, 2022 Inspection · No deficiencies cited

No violations cited on this visit.

HHSC inspection history
Oct 7, 2022 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
- Staff background & training
  Several employees are missing their required 24 hours of annual training.
  
  HHSC 746.1301(5)(A) — Training Requirements for Employees and Caregivers - 24 Annual Training
  
  HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2022-10-21. Correction verified 2022-10-20.
- Supervision & ratios
  The fire extinguishers at this operation expired as of September 2022.
  
  HHSC 746.5307(b) — Fire Extinguishers Serviced
  
  HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2022-10-14. Correction verified 2022-10-20.
HHSC inspection history
Oct 14, 2021 Inspection · No deficiencies cited

No violations cited on this visit.

HHSC inspection history

Get the full file

HHSC publishes inspections, investigations and assessments from October 2017 onward, with each cited deficiency and its risk weight. Investigation narratives, complaint files and older history require a public information request. The Texas Public Information Act (Texas Government Code Chapter 552) gives anyone the right to ask. You don't have to say why.

Email the request Printable letter (fax or mail)

Send to: HHSC Open Records Coordinator, MC-1070 · OpenRecordsRequest@hhs.texas.gov · fax 512-424-6586 · 4601 W. Guadalupe Street, Austin, Texas 78751-3146 · agency instructions

Show the letter text

Letter text

Dear Open Records Coordinator,

Under the Texas Public Information Act, Texas Government Code Chapter 552, I request copies of the following Child Care Regulation records for Western Hills Academy, 524 THUNDERBIRD DR, El Paso, TX 79912-3315 (operation ID 96278, operation number 119560), for January 1, 2019 to the present:

1. Every inspection, assessment and investigation report, including the deficiencies cited and the operation's corrective actions.
2. Every complaint and self-report intake and its finding.
3. Every corrective or adverse action (evaluation, probation, suspension, revocation, denial, administrative penalty) with related correspondence.
4. Every plan of action or correction the operation submitted, and HHSC's response.

I understand that information made confidential by law (for example the identities of children, families and reporters) may be redacted; please release the remainder. Please provide the records electronically by email. If the cost will exceed $40, please send me an itemized estimate first.

Thank you,

[Your name]
[Email] · [Phone]

If something is happening now, report a concern to HHSC Child Care Regulation. For suspected abuse, contact your county child protective services or law enforcement.

Source: Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation datasets on data.texas.gov. Last read Oct 1, 2026. Violation text is HHSC's own wording. The categories are ours, added to help you scan. About this data.