Head Start in Massachusetts
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
- 178
- towns
- 78
- towns have their own Head Start page
- 13
- of all Massachusetts daycares
- 2%
Map of Massachusetts: each dot is a town with Head Start and Early Head Start centers, sized by how many are listed
Head Start
Head Start and Early Head Start in Massachusetts
- Head Start centers (ages 3 to 5)
- 114
- Free preschool for children from families who qualify.
- Early Head Start centers (birth to 3)
- 71
- For babies and toddlers, and many programs also serve expectant families.
- on the federal Head Start site list
- 112
- 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.
Massachusetts
Largest towns for Head Start in Massachusetts
Programs
Programs in Massachusetts
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 | 8,884 |
| Take infants | 1,428 |
| Child care centers | 3,010 |
| Accept subsidy | 6,436 |
| In-home daycares | 5,874 |
| Christian & church daycares | 93 |
| Montessori schools | 173 |
| Preschools & pre-K | 2,248 |
| Early morning daycare | 236 |
| Part-time daycare | 426 |
| Drop-in daycare | 39 |
| After-school care | 1,651 |
| Bilingual daycare | 158 |
| Head Start | 178 |
The Massachusetts state record
Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care licenses daycares in Massachusetts.
- 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
- On the state's own site; each listing links to it
Before you enroll
Applying to Head Start in Massachusetts
- 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.
Massachusetts
Cost, inspections and ratios in Massachusetts
A to Z
All 78 Massachusetts towns with Head Start, A to Z
C6 towns
D2 towns
- Dorchester4 centers
- Dracut1 center
E3 towns
- East Boston2 centers
- East Brookfield1 center
- Everett1 center
F4 towns
- Fall River26 centers
- Falmouth1 center
- Fitchburg1 center
- Framingham1 center
G3 towns
- Gardner3 centers
- Gloucester1 center
- Great Barrington1 center
J1 town
- Jamaica Plain2 centers
L6 towns
M8 towns
- Malden1 center
- Marlborough2 centers
- Marshfield1 center
- Mattapan1 center
- Medford1 center
- Medway1 center
- Methuen5 centers
- Middleboro1 center
N7 towns
- New Bedford3 centers
- Newburyport1 center
- North Adams2 centers
- North Falmouth1 center
- Northampton1 center
- Norton2 centers
- Norwood1 center
O1 town
- Orange1 center
P2 towns
- Pittsfield2 centers
- Plymouth1 center
Q1 town
- Quincy1 center
R3 towns
- Revere1 center
- Roslindale1 center
- Roxbury4 centers
S6 towns
- Salem1 center
- Somerville2 centers
- South Boston2 centers
- Southbridge1 center
- Springfield6 centers
- Swansea2 centers
T2 towns
- Taunton3 centers
- Turners Falls2 centers
V1 town
- Vineyard Haven1 center
W8 towns
- Waltham1 center
- Ware1 center
- Wareham1 center
- Webster1 center
- West Barnstable1 center
- Westfield1 center
- Whitinsville1 center
- Woburn1 center
No town on this list matches. Check the spelling, or search by ZIP code above.
Nearby
Nearby states
Questions
Questions about Head Start in Massachusetts
How many Head Start and Early Head Start centers are in Massachusetts?
178 Head Start and Early Head Start centers are listed in 78 Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts town has the most Head Start and Early Head Start centers?
Fall River, with 26 listed. Next are Haverhill (23) and Lawrence (12).
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 Massachusetts?
Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care licenses daycares in Massachusetts. It publishes inspections on its own site; use the state search linked on this page.