Daycare RecordChild care inspection records

Montessori Achievement Center

10435 Campo Road, Spring Valley, CA 91978 · San Diego County
Child care center (preschool)

Montessori Achievement Center is a licensed child care center in Spring Valley, CA, licensed for up to 42 children and serving preschool-age children. It has held its California license since 1997. Since February 2021, state licensing staff have inspected it 3 times and investigated 1 complaint, 0 of them substantiated. The state issued 6 citations, 1 of them Type A (the most serious), most often for training & qualifications (2 of 6). 1 citation came in the last 12 months. Measured by weighted citations per inspection, it is #17 of 21 centers in Spring Valley and has more citations per inspection than 87% of California licensed centers.

Inspection record

More citations than 87%of 10,948 California licensed centers, per inspection, weighted by severity. Among the most cited
#17 of 21 centers in Spring Valley
1Type A citations
5Type B citations
3Inspections
0 of 1Complaints substantiated
6 citations from 5 state visits since Feb 8, 2021 · 1 in the last 12 months · last inspected Sep 24, 2026

Every state visit

20222023202420252026INSPECTIONS (top) · REPORTS & INVESTIGATIONS (bottom)Sep 24, 2026 · Inspection · citation foundOct 9, 2025 · Report/investigation · no citationSep 12, 2025 · Inspection · citation foundJul 30, 2025 · Report/investigation · citation foundAug 15, 2022 · Inspection · no citation
Citation issuedNo citationTop row: inspections · bottom row: complaint investigations and other visits

What inspectors cited most

Training & qualifications2
Background checks2
Building & playground safety1
Records & paperwork1

Citations, newest first

Type BSep 24, 2026InspectionTraining & qualifications
Staff health screening and personnel requirements §101216(g)(2)
Based on interview and record review, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above by not having a completed health screening for 3 out of 4 staff present during the inspection which posed a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
Plan of correction due Oct 30, 2026
Type BSep 12, 2025InspectionBuilding & playground safety
Buildings and grounds §101238(g)
Based on observation and interview, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above having palmolive dishsoap, lysol wipes and 2 cans of spray paint accessible to childen which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
Plan of correction due Sep 12, 2025
Type BSep 12, 2025InspectionBackground checks
Criminal record clearance §1596.871(c)(1)(A)
Based on interview and record review, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in not having record of criminal record clearance for 1 out of 5 staff members which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
Plan of correction due Sep 19, 2025
Type AJul 30, 2025Case management visit (deficiencies)Background checks
Criminal record clearance §101170(e)(1)
(e)All individuals subject to a criminal record review pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 1596.871 shall prior to working, residing or volunteering in a licensed facility:(1)Obtain a California clearance or a criminal record exemption as required by the Department This requirement was not met as evidence by: 1 Licensee stated she will obtain criminal record clearances for S1 and S2 no later than 07/31/2025 and submit receipt of completion to the Department. Based on Licensee's admission and record review, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above by not ensuring all adults working at the child care center have obtained a criminal record clearance prior to initial presence in the facility which poses an immediate health and safety risk to persons in care. 8
Plan of correction due Jul 31, 2025
Type BJul 30, 2025Case management visit (deficiencies)Records & paperwork
Personnel records §101217(a)(10)
The licensee shall ensure that personnel records are maintained.... Each personnel record shall contain: (10) A signed and dated copy of a Notice - Employee Rights (LIC 9052 [3/03]). This requirement was not met as evidence by: 1 Licensee stated she will ensure staff file are complete with LIC 9052, health screening, TB, LIC 9108, immunization / Tuberculosis records and credentials no later than 8/29/2025. Based on record review, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above by not ensuring all staff member have required employment documents which poses a potential health and safety risk to persons in care. 8
Plan of correction due Aug 29, 2025
Type BJul 30, 2025Case management visit (deficiencies)Training & qualifications
Staff health screening and personnel requirements §101216(i)(2)
(i) Prior to employment or initial presence in the child care center, all employees and volunteers subject to a criminal record review shall: 2) Request a transfer of a criminal record clearance as specified in Section 101170(f) This requirement was not met as evidence by: 1 Licensee stated she will submit LIC 9182 Background check transfer form to the Department no later than 8/4/2025 and register for Guardian to track background clearances for future employees. Based on Licensee's admission and record review ,the licensee did not comply with the section cited above by not ensuring all staff members with criminal record clearances were associated to the facility poses a potential health and safety risk to persons in care. 8
Plan of correction due Aug 4, 2025

Complaint investigations

Not substantiatedOct 9, 2025Complaint investigationreceived Jul 23, 2025
The state did not substantiate this complaint, so its allegations are not shown.

How often are complaints about daycares in San Diego County substantiated? See the county-by-county report →

About this center

Licensed capacity42 children
License typeChild care center (preschool)
License statusLicensed
Licensed sinceDec 29, 1997
LicenseePatricia J. Wheeler
AdministratorPatricia Wheeler
Phone(619) 442-2552
State facility #376600356

Common questions

Does Montessori Achievement Center take infants?

Not under this license, which covers preschool-age children.

Has Montessori Achievement Center had any serious violations?

California issued 1 Type A citation since 2021, its most serious category. The most recent was on Jul 30, 2025, for criminal record clearance. Each citation is listed in full above.

Have there been complaints about Montessori Achievement Center?

California investigated 1 complaint since 2021 and substantiated 0. Allegations are shown only for substantiated complaints.

How does Montessori Achievement Center compare with other daycares in Spring Valley?

It is #17 of 21 centers in Spring Valley by weighted citations per inspection, and has more citations per inspection than 87% of California licensed centers with enough inspection history to compare.

When was Montessori Achievement Center last inspected?

Sep 24, 2026. The state issued at least one citation during that visit.

How much does Montessori Achievement Center cost?

California does not publish individual centers’ prices, so ask Montessori Achievement Center for its current tuition. For comparison, the median full-time price at licensed centers in San Diego County, which includes Spring Valley, was $1,013 a month for preschoolers (about $1,280 today) in the state’s 2021 Regional Market Rate Survey.

Who runs Montessori Achievement Center?

The licensee is Patricia J. Wheeler, and the administrator listed with the state is Patricia Wheeler.

Licensed centers nearby

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 376600356 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.