First School of the Desert · Palm Springs
First School of the Desert is a licensed child care center in Palm Springs, CA, licensed for up to 60 children and serving preschool-age children. It has held its California license since 1988. Since February 2021, state licensing staff have inspected it 4 times and investigated 1 complaint, which was not substantiated. The state issued 4 citations, none of them Type A, most often for training & qualifications (2 of 4). 1 citation came in the last 12 months. Measured by weighted citations per inspection, it is #8 of 12 centers in Palm Springs and has more citations per inspection than 60% of California licensed centers.
Inspection record
Every state visit
What inspectors cited most
Citations, newest first
Based on record review, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above. In reviewing staff records, it was determined that staff #3 did not have the required units to be a fully qualified teacher. This poses/posed a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
Based on record review, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above. The facility last conducted a drill in June 2023, which is over six months ago. This poses/posed a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
Based on record review, the facility did not comply with the section cited above as two staff members, S3 and S4, were missing proof of a valid Mandated Reporter Child Care Providers Training Certificate (AB1207) which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
Based on observation and record review, the facility did not comply with the section cited above as S1 was not associated to the facility but instead was associated to a sister facility, a facility owned by the same Licensee, which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
Complaint investigations
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About this center
Common questions
Does First School of the Desert take infants?
Not under this license, which covers preschool-age children.
Has First School of the Desert had any serious violations?
No Type A citations since 2021. It has 4 Type B citations, listed above.
Have there been complaints about First School of the Desert?
California investigated 1 complaint since 2021 and substantiated 0. Allegations are shown only for substantiated complaints.
How does First School of the Desert compare with other daycares in Palm Springs?
It is #8 of 12 centers in Palm Springs by weighted citations per inspection, and has more citations per inspection than 60% of California licensed centers with enough inspection history to compare.
When was First School of the Desert last inspected?
Jan 21, 2026. The state issued at least one citation during that visit.
How much does First School of the Desert cost?
California does not publish individual centers’ prices, so ask First School of the Desert for its current tuition. For comparison, the median full-time price at licensed centers in Riverside County, which includes Palm Springs, was $856 a month for preschoolers (about $1,080 today) in the state’s 2021 Regional Market Rate Survey.
Who runs First School of the Desert?
The licensee is Dorothy M. Hastings, and the administrator listed with the state is Lyndsay Hunter.
Licensed centers nearby
3601 N. Sunrise Way, Palm Springs · 0.9 mi away · 51 spots No citations Little Scholars Childcare Center
3692 E Chia Rd, Palm Springs · 1.1 mi away · 98 spots Too few inspections to compare PSUSD - Katherine Finchy Elementary
777 Tachevah Drive, Palm Springs · 1.4 mi away · 20 spots No citations PSUSD - Desert Highland
480 Tramview Road, Palm Springs · 2.0 mi away · 34 spots About typical Creative Beginnings of the Desert
332 West Alejo Road #A, Palm Springs · 2.2 mi away · 70 spots Among the most cited Creative Beginnings Montessori Center
332 West Alejo Road #B, Palm Springs · 2.2 mi away · 53 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 330908513 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.