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Head Start

Head Start in Georgia

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
291
towns
174
towns have their own Head Start page
13
of all Georgia daycares
5%

Map of Georgia: 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 Georgia

Head Start centers (ages 3 to 5)
271
Free preschool for children from families who qualify.
Early Head Start centers (birth to 3)
125
For babies and toddlers, and many programs also serve expectant families.
on the federal Head Start site list
239
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.

Georgia

Largest towns for Head Start in Georgia

Atlanta47 centersColumbus9 centersAugusta7 centersAlbany6 centersDalton5 centersMacon4 centersSavannah4 centersBrunswick3 centersFort Valley3 centersNorcross3 centersRossville3 centersValdosta3 centers

Programs

Programs in Georgia

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 daycares6,150
Take infants3,179
Child care centers5,170
Accept subsidy2,747
In-home daycares980
Christian & church daycares261
Montessori schools110
Preschools & pre-K4,702
24-hour daycare42
Night daycare617
Early morning daycare2,335
Weekend daycare446
Part-time daycare216
Drop-in daycare88
After-school care3,640
Bilingual daycare61
Head Start291

The Georgia state record

Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning licenses daycares in Georgia.

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 2022
Cited rules
Each cited rule, in the state's own wording
Search the Georgia state records

Before you enroll

Applying to Head Start in Georgia

  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.

Georgia

Cost, inspections and ratios in Georgia

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

A to Z

All 174 Georgia towns with Head Start, A to Z

A11 towns
B12 towns
C22 towns
D10 towns
E6 towns
F8 towns
G9 towns
H10 towns
J4 towns
L14 towns
M13 towns
N6 towns
O2 towns
P2 towns
Q1 town
R9 towns
S12 towns
T9 towns
V2 towns
W11 towns
Z1 town

Nearby

Nearby states

Florida772 centersNorth Carolina412 centersTennessee316 centersSouth Carolina179 centersAlabama175 centers

Questions

Questions about Head Start in Georgia

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

291 Head Start and Early Head Start centers are listed in 174 Georgia 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 Georgia town has the most Head Start and Early Head Start centers?

Atlanta, with 47 listed. Next are Columbus (9) and Augusta (7).

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 Georgia?

Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning licenses daycares in Georgia. It publishes its inspections and the rules it cited, and we copy them onto each listing.