St. John of the Cross Preschool
St. John of the Cross Preschool is a licensed child care center in Lemon Grove, CA, licensed for up to 50 children and serving preschool-age children. It has held its California license since 1986. Since February 2021, state licensing staff have inspected it 3 times. The state issued 3 citations, none of them Type A, most often for building & playground safety (2 of 3). 2 citations came in the last 12 months. Measured by weighted citations per inspection, it is #9 of 10 centers in Lemon Grove and has more citations per inspection than 60% of California licensed centers.
Inspection record
Every state visit
What inspectors cited most
Citations, newest first
Based on interview, record review, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above by not conducting a fire and disaster frill at least every six months 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 by having three generators with on and off power levers exposed in the outdoor play area and a non operational water fountain which poses 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 1 out of 3 staff has been employed with the preschool since 09/2024 without a health screening which poses/posed a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
About this center
Common questions
Does St. John of the Cross Preschool take infants?
Not under this license, which covers preschool-age children.
Has St. John of the Cross Preschool had any serious violations?
No Type A citations since 2021. It has 3 Type B citations, listed above.
How does St. John of the Cross Preschool compare with other daycares in Lemon Grove?
It is #9 of 10 centers in Lemon Grove by weighted citations per inspection, and has more citations per inspection than 60% of California licensed centers with enough inspection history to compare.
When was St. John of the Cross Preschool last inspected?
May 14, 2026. The state issued at least one citation during that visit.
How much does St. John of the Cross Preschool cost?
California does not publish individual centers’ prices, so ask St. John of the Cross Preschool for its current tuition. For comparison, the median full-time price at licensed centers in San Diego County, which includes Lemon Grove, was $1,013 a month for preschoolers (about $1,280 today) in the state’s 2021 Regional Market Rate Survey.
Who runs St. John of the Cross Preschool?
The licensee is Diocese Of San Diego Education & Welfare Corp., and the administrator listed with the state is Samantha Hernandez.
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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 370805563 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.