Academy of Excellence · Preschool, Lancaster
Academy of Excellence is a licensed child care center in Lancaster, CA, licensed for up to 53 children and serving preschool-age children. It has held its California license since 2023. Since February 2021, state licensing staff have inspected it twice. The state issued 5 citations, none of them Type A, most often for building & playground safety (3 of 5). 3 citations came in the last 12 months. Measured by weighted citations per inspection, it is tied for #54 of 68 centers in Lancaster and has more citations per inspection than 85% of California licensed centers.
Inspection record
Every state visit
What inspectors cited most
Citations, newest first
Based on observation, interview, record review, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in earthquake disaster drill was last conducted 3/25/25 which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
Based on observation and interview, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in LPA observed a hole inside the wall near the flloor inside the chidlren's Pre K bathroom toilet area which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
Based on observation, interview, record review, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in the child/parent roster was missing the physician's names/phone numbers for several children during the inspection which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
Based on observation, interview, record review, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in no lead water testing results which poses/posed a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
Based on observation, interview, record review, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in new director packet which poses/posed a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
How common are lead-in-water citations in Los Angeles County? See the county-by-county report →
About this center
Other licenses at this address
Common questions
Does Academy of Excellence take infants?
Not under this license, which covers preschool-age children. An infant center is licensed separately at the same address (listed below).
Has Academy of Excellence had any serious violations?
No Type A citations since 2021. It has 5 Type B citations, listed above.
How does Academy of Excellence compare with other daycares in Lancaster?
It is tied for #54 of 68 centers in Lancaster by weighted citations per inspection, and has more citations per inspection than 85% of California licensed centers with enough inspection history to compare.
When was Academy of Excellence last inspected?
Feb 24, 2026. The state issued at least one citation during that visit.
How much does Academy of Excellence cost?
California does not publish individual centers’ prices, so ask Academy of Excellence for its current tuition. For comparison, the median full-time price at licensed centers in Los Angeles County, which includes Lancaster, was $1,087 a month for preschoolers (about $1,370 today) in the state’s 2021 Regional Market Rate Survey.
Who runs Academy of Excellence?
The licensee is Chauncy Smith, and the administrator listed with the state is Chauncy Smith.
Licensed centers nearby
1324 West Avenue J Suite 5, Lancaster · under 0.1 mi away · 8 spots Too few inspections to compare Academy of Excellence
1324 West Avenue J Suite 5, Lancaster · under 0.1 mi away · 30 spots Among the most cited Desert Montessori Academy
1030 W Avenue L8, Lancaster · ZIP 93534 away · 22 spots Among the most cited The Learning Tree Preschool
44662 15th Street West, Lancaster · 0.4 mi away · 225 spots More citations than most CCRC 10th Street Head Start
44236 10th Street West, Lancaster · 0.4 mi away · 54 spots Among the most cited CCRC 10th Street Head Start
44236 10th St West, Lancaster · 0.4 mi away · 80 spots Among the most cited
Citations are quoted from California Department of Social Services inspection and complaint reports. Type A citations are the state’s most serious category (an immediate risk to children’s health, safety or personal rights); Type B citations are a potential risk. A citation is a finding about one rule, not a judgment about a center overall. Complaint allegations appear here only when the state substantiated them.
To read the full state reports, search facility number 197750161 on the California Care Facility Search. Data refreshed Oct 3, 2026.
Comparing centers? See how to choose a daycare: 30 questions to ask and a printable checklist.