Heritage Montessori School · Preschool, Ridgecrest
Heritage Montessori School is a licensed child care center in Ridgecrest, CA, licensed for up to 90 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 and investigated 6 complaints, 2 of them substantiated. The state issued 11 citations, 2 of them Type A (the most serious), most often for caregiver conduct (3 of 11). None came in the last 12 months. Measured by weighted citations per inspection, it is #11 of 11 centers in Ridgecrest and has more citations per inspection than 95% of California licensed centers.
Inspection record
Every state visit
What inspectors cited most
Citations, newest first
(a) The licensee shall ensure that each child is accorded the following personal rights: (3) To be free from corporal or unusual punishment, infliction of pain, humiliation, intimidation, ridicule...but not limited to: interference with..functions of daily living. Licensee informed LPA during interview that S1 received verbal written warning and was re-trained. During interviews it was found that S1 is no longer employed by the facility. Licensee has confirmed enrollment in the CCL TSP program. This requirement was not met as evidence by: Based on observation, interviews and record file reviews C1's arm was injured by S1, which poses an immediate risk to the health safety and personal rights of the clients in care.
Based on observation, interview, record review, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in not having exit door work properly 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 not having immunization's records (MMR and Tdap) for three employees, flu decline or vaccination missing for four employees 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 by not having employee with TB test results or assessment in the employee file which poses/posed a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
(a) The licensee shall ensure that each child is accorded the following personal rights: (3) To be free from corporal or unusual punishment, infliction of pain, humiliation, intimidation, ridicule...but not limited to: interference with..functions of daily living. 1 Director informed LPA during interview that S1 is no longer employed with facility. This requirement was not met as evidence by: Based on observation, interviews and record reviews C1's personal rights were violated by S1, which poses an immediate risk to the health safety and personal rights of the clients in care. 8
(1) Except as specified in (3) below, good physical health shall be verified by a health screening,...test for tuberculosis,...performed by..physician not more than one year prior to or seven days after employment or licensure. Site Supervisor states they will ensure that TB test is obtained within the first 7 days of employment. Director will implement POC procedure to ensure TB is obtained on time. Director will provide proof completion to LPA.
(b) The medical assessment shall provide the following: (2) Results of a test for tuberculosis. Site Supervisor states ensure current TB or documentation from physician report when enrolled. Director will implement POC procedure to ensure TB is obtained on time for children. Director will provide proof completion to LPA.
(a) (1) Commencing September 1, 2016, a person shall not be employed or volunteer at a day care center if he or she has not been immunized against influenza, pertussis, and measles. Each employee and volunteer shall receive an influenza vaccination between August 1 and December 1 of each year. 1 Site Supervisor states they will ensure employees immunization records are on file on date of hire. Director will implement POC procedure to ensure immunization's are obtained for employees. Director will provide proof completion to LPA.
(a) The licensee shall ensure that each child is accorded the following personal rights: (2) To be accorded safe, healthful and comfortable accommodations, furnishings and equipment to meet his/her needs. Site Supervisor states she will re-train staff on proper procedures of working with bodily fluids for childs health in accordance first aid. Director will provide proof completion to LPA.
Based on observation, interview, record review, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above due to not having TB test results present in employee file which poses/posed a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
101173(c) Plan of Operation: (c) The child care center shall operate in accordance with the terms specified in the plan of operation. The requirement is not met as evidence by: 1 The licensee shall submit a Plan of Operation to provide Incidential Medical Service by the due date. Based on interviews and record review, the licensee failed to have a Plan of Operation to provide Incidential Medical Services for child #1 which propose a potential health safety or personal rights risk to the person in care. 8
Complaint investigations
Allegation#1-Personal Rights: Lack of supervision resulting in daycare child sustaining unexplained injuries.
Allegation #2-Personal Rights: Staff handle daycare children in a rough manner.
Allegation #6-Personal Rights-Staff do not practice proper hand hygiene when wiping infants nose.
Allegation #7-Record Keeping-Staff does not have TB clearance.
Allegation #8-Record Keeping-Staff did not ensure infant immunization and TB records are maintained at the facility.
How often are complaints about daycares in California substantiated? See the county-by-county report →
About this center
Common questions
Does Heritage Montessori School take infants?
Not under this license, which covers preschool-age children.
Has Heritage Montessori School had any serious violations?
California issued 2 Type A citations since 2021, its most serious category. The most recent was on Sep 18, 2025, for personal rights. Each citation is listed in full above.
Have there been complaints about Heritage Montessori School?
California investigated 6 complaints since 2021 and substantiated 2. Allegations are shown only for substantiated complaints.
How does Heritage Montessori School compare with other daycares in Ridgecrest?
It is #11 of 11 centers in Ridgecrest by weighted citations per inspection, and has more citations per inspection than 95% of California licensed centers with enough inspection history to compare.
When was Heritage Montessori School last inspected?
Sep 18, 2025. The state issued at least one citation during that visit.
How much does Heritage Montessori School cost?
California does not publish individual centers’ prices, so ask Heritage Montessori School for its current tuition. For comparison, the median full-time price at licensed centers in Kern County, which includes Ridgecrest, was $837 a month for preschoolers (about $1,060 today) in the state’s 2021 Regional Market Rate Survey.
Who runs Heritage Montessori School?
The licensee is Denise Campos, and the administrator listed with the state is Denise Campos.
Licensed centers nearby
814 N. Norma Street, Ridgecrest · 0.3 mi away · 68 spotsToo few inspections to compareImmanuel Christian Child Development Center
1201 N. China Lake Blvd., Ridgecrest · 0.4 mi away · 90 spotsNo citationsImmanuel Christian Child Development Center
1201 N. China Lake Blvd., Ridgecrest · 0.4 mi away · 29 spotsAbout typicalImmanuel Christian Child Development Center
1201 N. China Lake Blvd., Ridgecrest · 0.4 mi away · 50 spotsAbout typicalToddler To Scholar Academy
1661 Triangle Dr, Ridgecrest · 0.9 mi away · 37 spotsToo few inspections to compareHeritage Montessori School
1435 N. Downs Street, Ridgecrest · 0.9 mi away · 30 spotsNo citations
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 157750003 on the California Care Facility Search. Data refreshed Oct 3, 2026.
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