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Head Start

Head Start in Missouri

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
207
towns
138
towns have their own Head Start page
9
of all Missouri daycares
8%

Map of Missouri: 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 Missouri

Head Start centers (ages 3 to 5)
180
Free preschool for children from families who qualify.
Early Head Start centers (birth to 3)
132
For babies and toddlers, and many programs also serve expectant families.
on the federal Head Start site list
205
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.

Missouri

Largest towns for Head Start in Missouri

St Louis34 centersKansas City6 centersSpringfield5 centersSt Joseph5 centersFlorissant4 centersJoplin4 centersKirksville3 centersMacon3 centersSedalia3 centersArnold2 centersBranson2 centersCarrollton2 centers

Programs

Programs in Missouri

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 daycares2,614
Take infants1,708
Child care centers2,046
Accept subsidy69
In-home daycares568
Christian & church daycares228
Montessori schools36
Preschools & pre-K2,217
24-hour daycare69
Night daycare1,980
Early morning daycare2,184
Part-time daycare135
Drop-in daycare17
After-school care2,194
Bilingual daycare11
Head Start207

The Missouri state record

Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Office of Childhood licenses daycares in Missouri.

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 Missouri state records

Before you enroll

Applying to Head Start in Missouri

  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.

Missouri

Cost, inspections and ratios in Missouri

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

A to Z

All 138 Missouri towns with Head Start, A to Z

A5 towns
B9 towns
C16 towns
D1 town
E3 towns
F6 towns
G6 towns
H7 towns
I3 towns
J2 towns
K6 towns
L7 towns
M18 towns
N8 towns
O2 towns
P7 towns
R5 towns
S13 towns
T3 towns
U1 town
W10 towns

Nearby

Nearby states

Illinois390 centersTennessee316 centersKentucky278 centersOklahoma265 centersArkansas236 centersIowa118 centersKansas73 centersNebraska44 centers

Questions

Questions about Head Start in Missouri

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

207 Head Start and Early Head Start centers are listed in 138 Missouri 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 Missouri town has the most Head Start and Early Head Start centers?

St Louis, with 34 listed. Next are Kansas City (6) and Springfield (5).

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 Missouri?

Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Office of Childhood licenses daycares in Missouri. It publishes its inspections and the rules it cited, and we copy them onto each listing.