El Ranchito Head Start Child Development Center

24356 W US HIGHWAY 281, San Benito, TX 78586 · Cameron County

2cited violations

0serious

8inspections & investigations

0enforcement actions

Program

Type: Licensed center
Licensed capacity: 34
Ages: Toddler, Pre-Kindergarten, School
Hours: 07:30 AM-03:30 PM
Director / administrator: Beatriz Mendez
Phone: (956) 399-6124
Regulated since: Sep 4, 1990
HHSC IDs: Operation 100327 · number 198462- 4070
Official record: HHSC Child Care Search

Violations by category

Safety & premises 2

Year by year

Year	Violations	Serious	Main categories
2025	2	0	Safety & premises (2)

Inspections, investigations & assessments

Mar 6, 2026 Inspection · No deficiencies cited

No violations cited on this visit.

HHSC inspection history
Feb 27, 2026 Inspection · No deficiencies cited

No violations cited on this visit.

HHSC inspection history
Mar 17, 2025 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
- Safety & premises
  There is a gap in the playground fence which measures 5.1 inches from the bottom of the fence to the top. This goes on for about 2 ft where the gap incrementally decreases.
  
  HHSC 746.3407 — Maintenance of Building, Grounds and Equipment
  
  HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2025-03-24. Correction verified 2025-03-19.
- Safety & premises
  Observed fire extinguisher in the transportation vehicle not serviced properly. Needle is in the red area showing it is empty. NOTE: CORRECTED at the time of inspection as it was replaced with a serviced fire extinguisher at the time of inspection.
  
  HHSC 746.5307(b) — Fire Extinguishers Serviced
  
  HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected at inspection. Corrected 2025-03-17.
HHSC inspection history
May 7, 2024 Inspection · No deficiencies cited

No violations cited on this visit.

HHSC inspection history
May 31, 2023 Inspection · No deficiencies cited

No violations cited on this visit.

HHSC inspection history
Aug 31, 2022 Inspection · No deficiencies cited

No violations cited on this visit.

HHSC inspection history
Apr 28, 2022 Report · No deficiencies cited

No violations cited on this visit.

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 EL Ranchito Head Start Child Development Center, 24356 W US HIGHWAY 281, San Benito, TX 78586-8052 (operation ID 100327, operation number 198462- 4070), 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.