Skip to content
DaycarePal
Head Start

Head Start Near Me

Head Start is free preschool for children 3 to 5 from families who qualify, and Early Head Start serves babies and toddlers. Families qualify by income, or when they receive public assistance, a child is in foster care or the family has no stable home.

Head Start and Early Head Start centers
10,675
states
50
in California
1,403
in Chicago, IL
158

Share your location to see daycares near me, or type a town. Your location stays in your browser.

State license recordInspection records
What puts a daycare on this listThe Office of Head Start lists a Head Start or Early Head Start site at the daycare, or its name, its own website or its state record says Head Start.Head Start programs also run classrooms in public schools and home-based services that may not be on this list; the Office of Head Start's locator lists every site.

Head Start

Head Start and Early Head Start

Head Start centers (ages 3 to 5)
8,850
Free preschool for children from families who qualify.
Early Head Start centers (birth to 3)
4,909
For babies and toddlers, and many programs also serve expectant families.
on the federal Head Start site list
8,693
The Office of Head Start lists a site at these daycares. The others say Head Start in their name, on their website or on their state record.
How to apply for Head Start (Office of Head Start)

Head Start sites: Office of Head Start, Head Start service locations (Administration for Children and Families), 2026.

By state

Head Start by state

Pick a state on the map or in the list to see its towns, A to Z.

Map of US states shaded by number of listings. The list of states below links to each state page.

Under 5050+100+200+400+Not listed yet
Alabama175Alaska15Arizona283Arkansas236California1,403Colorado156Connecticut53Delaware38District of Columbia39Florida772Georgia291Hawaii88Idaho52Illinois390Indiana163Iowa118Kansas73Kentucky278Louisiana285Maine64Maryland93Massachusetts178Michigan427Minnesota181Mississippi177Missouri207Montana86Nebraska44Nevada41New Hampshire23New Jersey161New Mexico119New York469North Carolina412North Dakota39Ohio626Oklahoma265Oregon173Pennsylvania174Rhode Island21South Carolina179South Dakota9Tennessee316Texas565Utah104Vermont37Virginia166Washington120West Virginia80Wisconsin180Wyoming31
Top 10 states
Top 10 statesListed
California1,403
Florida772
Ohio626
Texas565
New York469
Michigan427
North Carolina412
Illinois390
Tennessee316
Georgia291
Head Start and Early Head Start centers listed per state, October 2026.

Towns

Largest towns

Only towns with 3 or more have their own Head Start page.

Chicago, IL158 centersLos Angeles, CA114 centersPhoenix, AZ112 centersMiami, FL98 centersBrooklyn, NY81 centersPhiladelphia, PA71 centersSacramento, CA66 centersCincinnati, OH66 centersSan Antonio, TX58 centersMemphis, TN56 centersStockton, CA52 centersDetroit, MI50 centersJacksonville, FL49 centersAtlanta, GA47 centersColumbus, OH47 centersOrlando, FL45 centersBaltimore, MD44 centersHouston, TX43 centersTampa, FL42 centersNew Orleans, LA39 centersWashington, DC39 centersCleveland, OH38 centersSan Diego, CA38 centersSt Louis, MO34 centers

Before you enroll

Applying to Head Start

  1. 1

    Check that you qualify

    Families qualify by income, or when they receive TANF, SSI or SNAP, a child is in foster care or the family has no stable home. Programs may take some other children too.

  2. 2

    Have your papers ready

    Ask the program which papers to bring, such as proof of your child's age and of your family's income or benefits.

  3. 3

    Ask about the waitlist

    There are not enough places for every child who qualifies. If no place is open now, ask to join the waitlist.

  4. 4

    Ask about the day

    Some programs run full days, some part days or the school year only, and some visit families at home. Ask which fits your family.

Other programs

Daycare Near Me210,469Infant daycare73,843In-home daycares82,532Montessori schools5,643Christian & church daycares12,236Preschools & pre-K105,148Affordable daycare51,74524-hour daycare1,068Night daycare9,508Early morning daycare42,925Weekend daycare3,587Part-time daycare7,360Drop-in daycare1,785After-school care90,135Bilingual daycare2,549Florida VPK5,453

Questions

Questions about Head Start

How many Head Start and Early Head Start centers are listed?

Over 10,000 Head Start and Early Head Start centers are listed across 50 states and DC. Head Start programs also run classrooms in public schools and home-based services that may not be on this list; the Office of Head Start's locator lists every site.

Who qualifies for Head Start?

Children from families whose income is at or below the federal poverty guidelines, families that receive TANF, SSI or SNAP, children in foster care and children experiencing homelessness. Programs may also take some children who do not meet these rules, so ask.

Is Head Start free?

Yes. Head Start and Early Head Start cost nothing for families who qualify.

What ages does Head Start serve?

Head Start preschool is for children 3 to 5. Early Head Start is for babies and toddlers from birth to 3, and many programs also serve expectant families.

How do I apply for Head Start?

Call or visit the Head Start program near you; it explains the papers you need. If no place is open now, ask to join the waitlist. The Office of Head Start's apply page links to its national locator.

Are these daycares licensed?

Most are. A listing from a state child care license record shows the license as the state publishes it. The others, where no state license record is available, come from public business listings; their pages say that no license record is matched yet.