Skip to content
DaycarePal
Head Start

Head Start in Delaware

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
38
towns
15
towns have their own Head Start page
3
of all Delaware daycares
3%

Map of Delaware: 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 Delaware

Head Start centers (ages 3 to 5)
27
Free preschool for children from families who qualify.
Early Head Start centers (birth to 3)
16
For babies and toddlers, and many programs also serve expectant families.
on the federal Head Start site list
25
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.

Delaware

Largest towns for Head Start in Delaware

Wilmington11 centersDover6 centersGeorgetown4 centersBridgeville2 centersHarrington2 centersLaurel2 centersMilford2 centersNew Castle2 centersBear1 centerClaymont1 centerMilton1 centerNewark1 center

Programs

Programs in Delaware

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 daycares1,189
Take infants767
Child care centers598
Accept subsidy913
In-home daycares591
Christian & church daycares49
Montessori schools22
Preschools & pre-K1,065
Night daycare128
Early morning daycare453
Part-time daycare25
After-school care947
Bilingual daycare14
Head Start38

The Delaware state record

Delaware Department of Education, Office of Child Care Licensing licenses daycares in Delaware.

License list
The state's public list of licensed child care
Ages served
The ages on each license
Inspections
Visits with findings back to 2021; the state does not list visits without findings
Cited rules
The inspector's finding, in the state's own words
Corrections
Correction dates as the state records them
Search the Delaware state records

Before you enroll

Applying to Head Start in Delaware

  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.

Delaware

Cost, inspections and ratios in Delaware

Daycare cost in DelawareWeekly prices by age and countyWhat Delaware inspectors citeThe rules cited most, and what they meanStaff-to-child ratios in DelawareHow many children each adult may care forTour checklist for DelawareQuestions to ask when you visit

A to Z

All 15 Delaware towns with Head Start, A to Z

B2 towns
C1 town
D1 town
G1 town
H1 town
L1 town
M2 towns
N2 towns
S3 towns
W1 town

Nearby

Nearby states

Pennsylvania174 centersNew Jersey161 centersMaryland93 centers

Questions

Questions about Head Start in Delaware

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

38 Head Start and Early Head Start centers are listed in 15 Delaware 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 Delaware town has the most Head Start and Early Head Start centers?

Wilmington, with 11 listed. Next are Dover (6) and Georgetown (4).

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 Delaware?

Delaware Department of Education, Office of Child Care Licensing licenses daycares in Delaware. It publishes its inspections and the rules it cited, and we copy them onto each listing.