Montessori on the Lake
Montessori on the Lake is a licensed child care center in Lake Forest, CA, licensed for up to 77 children and serving preschool-age children. It has held its California license since 1988. Since February 2021, state licensing staff have inspected it 3 times and investigated 1 complaint, 1 of them substantiated. The state issued 8 citations, 2 of them Type A (the most serious), most often for training & qualifications (2 of 8). None of them came in the last 12 months. Measured by weighted citations per inspection, it is tied for #20 of 22 centers in Lake Forest and has more citations per inspection than 92% of California licensed centers.
Inspection record
Every state visit
What inspectors cited most
Citations, newest first
Based on interviews and record reviews, the licensee did not ensure staff completed the minimum number of ECE units or equivalent, which poses an immediate risk to the health, safety, and personal rights of the clients in care.
Based on interviews and record reviews, the licensee did not ensure visual supervision was provided at all times, which poses an immediate risk to the health, safety, and personal rights of the clients in care.
Based on interviews and record reviews, the licensee did not conduct an emergency drill once at least every six months, which poses a potential 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 that 1 out 1 lead testing was not completed, which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
Based on observation, interview, and record review, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in 3 out of 3 staff did not have current mandated reporter training certificates, which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
Based on observation and record review, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in 4 out 4 staff did not have updated influenza vaccinations or statement to decline, which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
Based on observation and record review, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in 1 out of 1 staff did not have TB results on file, which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
Based on observation, interview, and record review, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in that 1 out 1 staff was not associated to the facility, which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
Complaint investigations
Staff do not conduct disaster drills every six months
How often are complaints about daycares in Orange County substantiated? See the county-by-county report →
About this center
Common questions
Does Montessori on the Lake take infants?
Not under this license, which covers preschool-age children.
Has Montessori on the Lake had any serious violations?
California issued 2 Type A citations since 2021, its most serious category. The most recent was on Sep 6, 2024, for teacher qualifications and duties. Each citation is listed in full above.
Have there been complaints about Montessori on the Lake?
California investigated 1 complaint since 2021 and substantiated 1. Allegations are shown only for substantiated complaints.
How does Montessori on the Lake compare with other daycares in Lake Forest?
It is tied for #20 of 22 centers in Lake Forest by weighted citations per inspection, and has more citations per inspection than 92% of California licensed centers with enough inspection history to compare.
When was Montessori on the Lake last inspected?
Dec 16, 2025. No citations were issued during that visit.
How much does Montessori on the Lake cost?
California does not publish individual centers’ prices, so ask Montessori on the Lake for its current tuition. For comparison, the median full-time price at licensed centers in Orange County, which includes Lake Forest, was $1,098 a month for preschoolers (about $1,390 today) in the state’s 2021 Regional Market Rate Survey.
Who runs Montessori on the Lake?
The licensee is Environments For Learning, INC., and the administrator listed with the state is Julie Everest.
Licensed centers nearby
24291 Muirlands, Suite 4, Lake Forest · under 0.1 mi away · 32 spots More citations than most Montessori on the Lake Too
23311 Muirlands, Lake Forest · 0.2 mi away · 105 spots More citations than most Scholarshine Montessori
24442 Muirlands Blvd, Lake Forest · 0.2 mi away · 64 spots Too few inspections to compare YMCA-oxford Lake Forest
22882 Loumont Drive, Lake Forest · 0.3 mi away · 140 spots No citations Milestones Montessori of Lake Forest
23222 Lake Center Drive, Lake Forest · 0.6 mi away · 24 spots No citations Milestones Montessori of Lake Forest
23222 Lake Center Drive, Lake Forest · 0.6 mi away · 189 spots About typical
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 300606752 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.