The Rancho Viejo School · Preschool, Rancho Sta Margarita
The Rancho Viejo School is a licensed child care center in Rancho Sta Margarita, CA, licensed for up to 120 children and serving preschool-age children. It has held its California license since 1998. Since February 2021, state licensing staff have inspected it 4 times and investigated 8 complaints, 2 of them substantiated. The state issued 9 citations, 1 of them Type A (the most serious), most often for health & medication (3 of 9). 1 citation came in the last 12 months. Measured by weighted citations per inspection, it is #12 of 12 centers in Rancho Sta Margarita and has more citations per inspection than 87% of California licensed centers.
Inspection record
Every state visit
What inspectors cited most
Citations, newest first
101161 (a) Limitations on Capacity A licensee shall not operate a child care center beyond the conditions and limitations specified on the license, including the capacity limitation. This requirement is not met as evidence by: 1 Director will review and provide a statement of understanding Limitations on Capacity CCR section 101161 and will not bring any children to any part of the building that is not licensed to the LPA via email by due date. Based on interviews, observations, record review, LPAs Carreiro and Thompson observed 5 additional preschool children in the lower Elementary Classroom which is not part of the preschool license with 1 preschool staff member #1 (S1). 8
Based on interviews it has been determined facility staff are not aware of children's allergies. This poses/posed a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
101226 Health-Related Services (e) In centers where the licensee chooses to handle medications(3) Prescription medications may be administered if all of the following conditions are met (A) Prescription medications shall be administered in accordance with the label directions as... 1 Director returned expired medication to parent. Director also stated they will check medication expiration dates monthly to ensure medications do not expire. prescribed by the child's physician. Based on observation, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above. C1 had an expired epi-pen and medication stored at the facility. This poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care. 8
1596.885(c) Conduct which is inimical to the health, morals, welfare, or safety of either an individual in or receiving services from the facility or the people of this state. Based on observation and interviews, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above. 1 Director stated she does not think her staff are liars, staff must have been confused or nervous because an allergy list was posted in the past. Director stated she will remind staff if they are unsure of something, it is okay for staff to respond, "I don't know" rather than feel forced to give an answer. Director will... Staff stated children's allergies are posted in the classroom. LPA did not observe all children's allergies posted. This poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care. 8 send a memo to all staff and send a copy to LPA by
Based on observation, interview, and record review, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above. A review of the Facility Personnel Report Summary on this date indicates all facility staff or other individuals who require caregiver background checks have received criminal record and child abuse index clearances or exemptions with the exception of Allison Joy Bierman which poses an immediate 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. LPA observed last fire/disaster drill was documented on 1/18/2022 which poses/posed 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. LPA observed staff (S1) mandated reporter certification expired 4/26/22 which poses/posed a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
Based on record review, the facility representative / Director did not comply with the section cited above in 2 out of 9 persons 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 [count] out of [total count] [(objects) (persons)] [identifiers] which poses/posed a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
Complaint investigations
Staff are operating beyond the terms of the license.
Facility staff are not made aware of children's allergies
How often are complaints about daycares in Orange County substantiated? See the county-by-county report →
About this center
Common questions
Does The Rancho Viejo School take infants?
Not under this license, which covers preschool-age children.
Has The Rancho Viejo School had any serious violations?
California issued 1 Type A citation since 2021, its most serious category. The most recent was on Feb 17, 2023, for criminal record clearance. Each citation is listed in full above.
Have there been complaints about The Rancho Viejo School?
California investigated 8 complaints since 2021 and substantiated 2. Allegations are shown only for substantiated complaints.
How does The Rancho Viejo School compare with other daycares in Rancho Sta Margarita?
It is #12 of 12 centers in Rancho Sta Margarita 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 The Rancho Viejo School last inspected?
Dec 1, 2025. No citations were issued during that visit.
How much does The Rancho Viejo School cost?
California does not publish individual centers’ prices, so ask The Rancho Viejo School for its current tuition. For comparison, the median full-time price at licensed centers in Orange County, which includes Rancho Sta Margarita, was $1,098 a month for preschoolers (about $1,390 today) in the state’s 2021 Regional Market Rate Survey.
Who runs The Rancho Viejo School?
The licensee is Rancho Viejo School, INC., The, and the administrator listed with the state is Deborah Warkentien.
Licensed centers nearby
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23371 Arroyo Vista, Rancho Sta Margarita · 0.4 mi away · 135 spots No citations Bright Bubbles Academy
30075 Comercio, Rancho Sta Margarita · 0.5 mi away · 72 spots Too few inspections to compare Appliedkids Child Development Center
30281 Esperanza, Rancho Santa Margari · 0.5 mi away · 60 spots Too few inspections to compare
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 304270351 on the California Care Facility Search. Data refreshed Oct 3, 2026.
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