Desert Montessori Academy
Desert Montessori Academy is a licensed child care center in Lancaster, CA, licensed for up to 22 children and serving preschool-age children. It has held its California license since 2021. Since February 2021, state licensing staff have inspected it 3 times. The state issued 11 citations, 1 of them Type A (the most serious), most often for training & qualifications (5 of 11). 4 citations came in the last 12 months. Measured by weighted citations per inspection, it is tied for #62 of 68 centers in Lancaster and has more citations per inspection than 94% of California licensed centers.
Inspection record
Every state visit
What inspectors cited most
Citations, newest first
Based on observation, interview, and record review, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care. According to Facility Director she was not aware a waiver was required if children do not consume water at the facility and food is brought from home.
Based on observation, interview, and record review, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care. Two staff out of two staff present did not have a current certificate for Mandated Reporter both expired on October 2025.
Based on observation, interview and record review, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care. One staff was not able to provide proof of MMR vaccine.
Based on observation, interview and record review, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care. Both staff present were not able to provide a valid current Pediatric or EMSA approved CPR/First Aid training certificate
Based on observation, interview, record review, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above 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 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 which poses a potential health, safety or personal rghts risk to persons in care.
Based on observation, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above by having cleaning supplies sitting on the sink in the kitchen area which poses an immediate health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
Based on interview and observations, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above having a large, sharp knife drying in the dish rack which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
Based on observations, interview, and record review, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above not completing the mandated reporter training before expiring for both the Director and Teacher which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
Based on observation, interview, and record review, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above by not renewing the Pediatric CPR/First Aid certification when it expired which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
About this center
Common questions
Does Desert Montessori Academy take infants?
Not under this license, which covers preschool-age children.
Has Desert Montessori Academy had any serious violations?
California issued 1 Type A citation since 2021, its most serious category. The most recent was on Sep 20, 2023, for storage space. Each citation is listed in full above.
How does Desert Montessori Academy compare with other daycares in Lancaster?
It is tied for #62 of 68 centers in Lancaster by weighted citations per inspection, and has more citations per inspection than 94% of California licensed centers with enough inspection history to compare.
When was Desert Montessori Academy last inspected?
Apr 14, 2026. The state issued at least one citation during that visit.
How much does Desert Montessori Academy cost?
California does not publish individual centers’ prices, so ask Desert Montessori Academy 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 Desert Montessori Academy?
The licensee is Lucinda Inganni, and the administrator listed with the state is Lucinda Inganni.
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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 197750121 on the California Care Facility Search. Data refreshed Oct 2, 2026.