Skip to content
DaycarePal
Head Start

Head Start in Arkansas

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 listed
236
towns
139
towns have their own Head Start page
18
of all Arkansas daycares
11%

Map of Arkansas: each dot is a town with Head Start and Early Head Start centers, sized by how many are listed

Head Start
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 in Arkansas

Head Start centers (ages 3 to 5)
182
Free preschool for children from families who qualify.
Early Head Start centers (birth to 3)
96
For babies and toddlers, and many programs also serve expectant families.
on the federal Head Start site list
128
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.

Arkansas

Largest towns for Head Start in Arkansas

Little Rock10 centersPine Bluff8 centersFayetteville6 centersHot Springs6 centersNorth Little Rock6 centersBlytheville5 centersJonesboro5 centersSpringdale4 centersVan Buren4 centersAshdown3 centersBatesville3 centersClarksville3 centers

Programs

Programs in Arkansas

Counts come from the state record and what each daycare says it offers. A daycare without a tag may still offer the program; ask.

ProgramListed
All daycares2,215
Take infants963
Child care centers2,027
Accept subsidy890
In-home daycares188
Christian & church daycares185
Montessori schools38
Preschools & pre-K1,478
Night daycare32
Early morning daycare460
Weekend daycare39
Part-time daycare48
Drop-in daycare13
After-school care617
Bilingual daycare13
Head Start236

The Arkansas state record

Arkansas Office of Early Childhood licenses daycares in Arkansas.

License list
The state's public list of licensed child care
Ages served
The ages on each license
Inspections
Every visit the state publishes back to 2023
Cited rules
Each cited rule, in the state's own wording
Search the Arkansas state records

Before you enroll

Applying to Head Start in Arkansas

  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.

Arkansas

Cost, inspections and ratios in Arkansas

What Arkansas inspectors citeThe rules cited most, and what they meanStaff-to-child ratios in ArkansasHow many children each adult may care forTour checklist for ArkansasQuestions to ask when you visit

A to Z

All 139 Arkansas towns with Head Start, A to Z

A5 towns
B9 towns
C12 towns
D7 towns
E7 towns
F4 towns
G8 towns
H13 towns
J5 towns
K2 towns
L6 towns
M18 towns
N4 towns
O2 towns
P10 towns
Q1 town
R6 towns
S7 towns
T2 towns
V2 towns
W8 towns
Y1 town

Nearby

Nearby states

Texas565 centersTennessee316 centersLouisiana285 centersOklahoma265 centersMissouri207 centersMississippi177 centers

Questions

Questions about Head Start in Arkansas

How many Head Start and Early Head Start centers are in Arkansas?

236 Head Start and Early Head Start centers are listed in 139 Arkansas towns. 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.

Which Arkansas town has the most Head Start and Early Head Start centers?

Little Rock, with 10 listed. Next are Pine Bluff (8) and Fayetteville (6).

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.

Who licenses daycares in Arkansas?

Arkansas Office of Early Childhood licenses daycares in Arkansas. It publishes its inspections and the rules it cited, and we copy them onto each listing.