Montessori School of San Clemente
Montessori School of San Clemente is a licensed child care center in San Clemente, CA, licensed for up to 189 children and serving children in more than one age group. It has held its California license since 2024. Since February 2021, state licensing staff have inspected it 3 times and investigated 2 complaints, both of them substantiated. The state issued 4 citations, 1 of them Type A (the most serious), most often for staff ratios (2 of 4). 2 citations came in the last 12 months, including 1 Type A. Measured by weighted citations per inspection, it is #15 of 16 centers in San Clemente and has more citations per inspection than 79% of California licensed centers.
Inspection record
Every state visit
What inspectors cited most
Citations, newest first
Based on interview and record review, the facility did not comply with the section cited above given that there were 14 preschool children (13 napping/resting and 1 not napping/resting) in Room 7 with 1 staff for approximately 10 minutes.
Based on observations, interviews conducted, and record review it was determined that during opening and closing times, the children in Room 2 and Room 3 combine which poses a potential risk to children in care.
statement of S4, S8, and S15 confirming an aid was supervising few children in one room for 10 minutes on one occasion, S6, and S7 1 The director agreed to send an acknowledgement statement with all the staffs’ signatures that they are aware of this requirement and will comply with this section of the regulations. confirmed S6 left a preschool room with 16-17 children under S7 supervision for a few minutes to assist a parent one time. S8, S11, and S15 reported hearing staff requesting assistance over walkie-talkies for being out of ratio. This is a potential risk to the health and safety of children in care. 8 The acknowledgement statement will be sent to LPA’s email address by the due date of 1/31/2025.
interviewing staff that S1 admitted raising their voice in frustration when addressing a staff's mistake in the presence of younger 1 The director agreed to send an acknowledgement statement with all the staffs’ signatures that they are aware of this requirement and will comply with this section of the regulations. The acknowledgement children. S2, S3, and S4 witnessed or heard S1 raising their voice at staff, including one instance during parent drop-off and another while younger children were napping. S5 and S8 confirmed hearing S1 yell at a staff member in the presence of younger children and parents. This is a potential risk to the health and safety of children in care. statement will be sent o LPA’s email address by the due date of 1/31/2025.
Complaint investigations
Facility is operating out of ratio
Staff yell in the presence of day care children in care
How often are complaints about daycares in Orange County substantiated? See the county-by-county report →
About this center
Other licenses at this address
Common questions
Has Montessori School of San Clemente had any serious violations?
California issued 1 Type A citation since 2021, its most serious category. The most recent was on May 15, 2026, for activities and napping. Each citation is listed in full above.
Have there been complaints about Montessori School of San Clemente?
California investigated 2 complaints since 2021 and substantiated 2. Allegations are shown only for substantiated complaints.
How does Montessori School of San Clemente compare with other daycares in San Clemente?
It is #15 of 16 centers in San Clemente by weighted citations per inspection, and has more citations per inspection than 79% of California licensed centers with enough inspection history to compare.
When was Montessori School of San Clemente last inspected?
May 15, 2026. No citations were issued during that visit.
How much does Montessori School of San Clemente cost?
California does not publish individual centers’ prices, so ask Montessori School of San Clemente for its current tuition. For comparison, the median full-time price at licensed centers in Orange County, which includes San Clemente, was $1,584 a month for infants (about $2,000 today), $1,098 a month for preschoolers (about $1,390 today) and $820 a month for school-age children (about $1,040 today) in the state’s 2021 Regional Market Rate Survey.
Who runs Montessori School of San Clemente?
The licensee is Lumi Academy LLC, and the administrator listed with the state is Michelle Gjertson.
Licensed centers nearby
1351 Calle Avanzado, San Clemente · 0.6 mi away · 144 spots No citations The Goddard School
1351 Calle Avanzado, San Clemente · 0.6 mi away · 24 spots About typical Vista del Mar-YMCA
1130 Avenida Talega, San Clemente · 0.8 mi away · 90 spots No citations YMCA-marblehead Childcare Center
2410 Via Turqueza, San Clemente · 1.7 mi away · 73 spots No citations Bright Horizons San Clemente
2015 Calle Frontera, San Clemente · 2.0 mi away · 144 spots More citations than most Capstone Montessori School
2021 Calle Frontera, San Clemente · 2.1 mi away · 132 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 304371685 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.