First School of the Desert · Cathedral City
First School of the Desert is a licensed child care center in Cathedral City, CA, licensed for up to 96 children and serving preschool-age children. It has held its California license since 1990. Since February 2021, state licensing staff have inspected it 5 times. The state issued 2 citations, none of them Type A. None of them came in the last 12 months. Measured by weighted citations per inspection, it is #4 of 5 centers in Cathedral City and has fewer citations per inspection than 54% 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 Staff#3 did not have proof of immunization on file. 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. In reviewing staff files, LPA observed that Staff #1 and Staff #4 had not completed the Mandated Reporter Training as required by AB1207. This poses/posed a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
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 2 Type B citations, listed above.
How does First School of the Desert compare with other daycares in Cathedral City?
It is #4 of 5 centers in Cathedral City by weighted citations per inspection, and has fewer citations per inspection than 54% of California licensed centers with enough inspection history to compare.
When was First School of the Desert last inspected?
May 5, 2026. No citations were issued 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 Cathedral City, 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 Mark And Dorothy Hastings, and the administrator listed with the state is Nina Hayes.
Licensed centers nearby
69310 McCallum Way, Cathedral City · ZIP 92234 away · 24 spots No citations PSUSD - Cathedral City Elementary School
69300 Converse Road, Cathedral City · ZIP 92234 away · 40 spots More citations than most PSUSD - Agua Caliente Head Start
30800 San Luis Rey Drive, Cathedral City · ZIP 92234 away · 30 spots No citations PSUSD - Cielo Vista Community Child Care Center
4150 E. Sunny Dunes Road, Palm Springs · ZIP 92264 away · 50 spots About typical A Child's Place An Early Education Center
1696 El Cielo Road, Palm Springs · ZIP 92264 away · 15 spots Among the most cited St. Theresa Preschool
2785 East Via Vaquero Road, Palm Springs · ZIP 92262 away · 65 spots More citations than most
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 330910007 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.