Back Bay Montessori
Back Bay Montessori is a licensed child care center in Costa Mesa, CA, licensed for up to 67 children and serving preschool-age children. It has held its California license since 1998. Since February 2021, state licensing staff have inspected it 4 times and investigated 2 complaints, 1 of them substantiated. The state issued 4 citations, 2 of them Type A (the most serious), most often for caregiver conduct (1 of 4). 3 citations came in the last 12 months, including 1 Type A. Measured by weighted citations per inspection, it is tied for #31 of 47 centers in Costa Mesa and has more citations per inspection than 79% of California licensed centers.
Inspection record
Every state visit
What inspectors cited most
Citations, newest first
Personal Rights (a)(3) To be free from...humiliation,intimidation,ridicule, coercion,threat...other actions of a punitive nature...:interference w/...daily living including…sleeping... This requirement is not met as evidence by: FR to give the LIC9224 & complaint report to parents/authorized representatives FR to do in-service/training with staff by 04/20/2026 FR to adjust staff schedules Based on interview, S2 saw S1 hold C2’s wrists & use S1’s knees on C2’s legs to get C2 to sleep. A1 saw S1 hold down C1 w/both S1’s hands to get C1 to sleep. This poses an immediate danger to the health & safety of children in care. 8
Based on staff interviews and LPA observation, S2 admitted to not knowing C1 was in the outdoor playground alone. S2 & S5 witnessed C1 alone in the outdoor playground. This poses a potential risk to the safety of the children in care.
101216.3Teacher-Child Ratio. (a) There shall be a ratio of one teacher visually observing and supervising no more than 12 children... This requirement is not met as evidence by: 1 FR will adjust staff schedules. FR will update classroom plan. LPA observation: LPA observed on 04/17/26, S6 had 17 out of 21 children napping. This poses a potential risk to the safety of the children in care.
Based on observation, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above. Inside an unlocked cabinet in room #1 LPA observed EO Essential Oils that contains ethanol and reads "keep out of reach from children, Bath & Body Works Fine Fragrance that contains Alcohol Denat, Ethylhexl Methoxycinnamate and other ingredients that are flammable which poses an immediate health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
Complaint investigations
Staff handles children in a rough manner.
Staff forces children to take naps
About this center
Common questions
Does Back Bay Montessori take infants?
Not under this license, which covers preschool-age children.
Has Back Bay Montessori had any serious violations?
California issued 2 Type A citations since 2021, its most serious category. The most recent was on Apr 17, 2026, for personal rights. Each citation is listed in full above.
Have there been complaints about Back Bay Montessori?
California investigated 2 complaints since 2021 and substantiated 1. Allegations are shown only for substantiated complaints.
How does Back Bay Montessori compare with other daycares in Costa Mesa?
It is tied for #31 of 47 centers in Costa Mesa by weighted citations per inspection, and has more citations per inspection than 79% of California licensed centers with enough inspection history to compare.
When was Back Bay Montessori last inspected?
Apr 17, 2026. No citations were issued during that visit.
How much does Back Bay Montessori cost?
California does not publish individual centers’ prices, so ask Back Bay Montessori for its current tuition. For comparison, the median full-time price at licensed centers in Orange County, which includes Costa Mesa, was $1,098 a month for preschoolers (about $1,390 today) in the state’s 2021 Regional Market Rate Survey.
Who runs Back Bay Montessori?
The licensee is Newport Harbor Montessori Center, and the administrator listed with the state is Priya Ediriwira.
Licensed centers nearby
2591 Irvine Avenue, Costa Mesa · under 0.1 mi away · 76 spotsMore citations than mostSusan Phillips Day School
381 University Drive, Ste. A, Costa Mesa · under 0.1 mi away · 21 spotsAbout typicalMontessori Way Learning Center,inc.
2401 Irvine Avenue, Newport Beach · 0.5 mi away · 42 spotsMore citations than mostNewport Montessori
20221 Cypress St, Newport Beach · 0.7 mi away · 137 spotsMore citations than mostCatalyst Kids-lindbergh
220 23rd Street, Costa Mesa · 0.8 mi away · 195 spotsMore citations than mostCatalyst Kids-lindbergh
220 23rd Street, Costa Mesa · 0.8 mi away · 24 spotsToo few inspections to compare
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 304270541 on the California Care Facility Search. Data refreshed Oct 2, 2026.