Montessori Achievement Center
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
Every state visit
What inspectors cited most
Citations, newest first
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.
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.
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.
(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
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
(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
Complaint investigations
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About this center
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
10235a Ramona Drive, Spring Valley · 0.3 mi away · 57 spotsMore citations than mostLearning Jungle Rancho San Diego - Preschool
3605 Avocado Boulevard, La Mesa · 0.4 mi away · 72 spotsToo few inspections to compareLearning Jungle Rancho San Diego - Infant
3605 Avocado Boulevard, La Mesa · 0.4 mi away · 48 spotsToo few inspections to compareSt. Joseph Chaldean Preschool Academy
3348 Sweetwater Springs Blvd, Spring Valley · 0.4 mi away · 80 spotsAbout typicalKinderCare Rothgard - Preschool
10130 Rothgard Road, Spring Valley · 0.5 mi away · 106 spotsAmong the most citedKinderCare Rothgard - Infant
10130 Rothgard Road, Spring Valley · 0.5 mi away · 23 spotsAmong 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 376600356 on the California Care Facility Search. Data refreshed Oct 3, 2026.
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