Head Start in Iowa
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
- 118
- towns
- 92
- towns have their own Head Start page
- 4
- of all Iowa daycares
- 4%
Head Start
Head Start and Early Head Start in Iowa
- Head Start centers (ages 3 to 5)
- 115
- Free preschool for children from families who qualify.
- Early Head Start centers (birth to 3)
- 13
- For babies and toddlers, and many programs also serve expectant families.
Iowa
Largest towns for Head Start in Iowa
Programs
Programs in Iowa
Counts come from the state record and what each daycare says it offers. A daycare without a tag may still offer the program; ask.
| Program | Listed |
|---|---|
| All daycares | 3,122 |
| Take infants | 168 |
| Child care centers | 1,478 |
| Accept subsidy | 33 |
| In-home daycares | 1,644 |
| Christian & church daycares | 143 |
| Montessori schools | 33 |
| Preschools & pre-K | 345 |
| Early morning daycare | 290 |
| Part-time daycare | 74 |
| Drop-in daycare | 17 |
| Bilingual daycare | 13 |
| Head Start | 118 |
The Iowa state record
Iowa Department of Health and Human Services licenses daycares in Iowa.
- License list
- The state's public list of licensed child care
- Ages served
- On some licenses only; elsewhere shown where the daycare gives them
- Inspections
- Every visit the state publishes back to 2021
- Cited rules
- Each cited rule, in the state's own wording
Before you enroll
Applying to Head Start in Iowa
- 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
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
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
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.
Iowa
Cost, inspections and ratios in Iowa
A to Z
All 92 Iowa towns with Head Start, A to Z
B4 towns
- Bedford1 center
- Bloomfield1 center
- Boone1 center
- Burlington1 center
C15 towns
- Carroll2 centers
- Cedar Rapids6 centers
- Centerville1 center
- Chariton1 center
- Charles City1 center
- Cherokee1 center
- Clarksville1 center
- Clear Lake1 center
- Clinton1 center
- Coralville1 center
- Corning1 center
- Corydon1 center
- Council Bluffs2 centers
- Cresco1 center
- Creston1 center
D7 towns
- Dakota City1 center
- Davenport1 center
- Denison1 center
- Des Moines4 centers
- Douds1 center
- Dubuque2 centers
- Dyersville1 center
E4 towns
- Eagle Grove1 center
- Eldon1 center
- Emmetsburg1 center
- Estherville1 center
F5 towns
- Fairfield1 center
- Farmington1 center
- Forest City1 center
- Fort Dodge1 center
- Fort Madison1 center
G1 town
- Grinnell1 center
I3 towns
- Indianola1 center
- Iowa City2 centers
- Iowa Falls1 center
J1 town
- Jefferson1 center
M11 towns
- Manchester1 center
- Manly1 center
- Mapleton1 center
- Maquoketa1 center
- Marion1 center
- Marshalltown2 centers
- Mason City1 center
- Milford1 center
- Monona1 center
- Mount Pleasant1 center
- Muscatine1 center
N3 towns
- Nevada1 center
- New Hampton1 center
- Newton1 center
O5 towns
- Oelwein1 center
- Orange City1 center
- Osceola1 center
- Oskaloosa1 center
- Ottumwa2 centers
R3 towns
- Red Oak1 center
- Rock Rapids1 center
- Rock Valley1 center
S6 towns
- Sac City1 center
- Sheldon1 center
- Sibley1 center
- Sigourney1 center
- Sioux Center1 center
- Sioux City9 centers
T1 town
- Tama1 center
V1 town
- Vinton1 center
W7 towns
- Washington1 center
- Waterloo4 centers
- Waukee1 center
- Waukon1 center
- Waverly1 center
- Webster City1 center
- West Des Moines2 centers
No town on this list matches. Check the spelling, or search by ZIP code above.
Nearby
Nearby states
Questions
Questions about Head Start in Iowa
How many Head Start and Early Head Start centers are in Iowa?
118 Head Start and Early Head Start centers are listed in 92 Iowa 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 Iowa town has the most Head Start and Early Head Start centers?
Sioux City, with 9 listed. Next are Cedar Rapids (6) and Des Moines (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 Iowa?
Iowa Department of Health and Human Services licenses daycares in Iowa. It publishes its inspections and the rules it cited, and we copy them onto each listing.