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Head Start

Head Start in Mississippi

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
177
towns
115
towns have their own Head Start page
15
of all Mississippi daycares
16%

Map of Mississippi: 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 Mississippi

Head Start centers (ages 3 to 5)
162
Free preschool for children from families who qualify.
Early Head Start centers (birth to 3)
81
For babies and toddlers, and many programs also serve expectant families.
on the federal Head Start site list
106
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.

Mississippi

Largest towns for Head Start in Mississippi

Jackson9 centersGulfport6 centersHolly Springs5 centersIndianola5 centersGreenville4 centersDrew3 centersHattiesburg3 centersHollandale3 centersLaurel3 centersLucedale3 centersMagnolia3 centersMcComb3 centers

Programs

Programs in Mississippi

Counts come from each daycare's name and what it says it offers; the state license list is not on DaycarePal yet. A daycare without a tag may still offer the program; ask.

ProgramListed
All daycares1,098
Take infants86
Child care centers1,094
Accept subsidy8
In-home daycares4
Christian & church daycares117
Montessori schools20
Preschools & pre-K137
Early morning daycare327
Part-time daycare19
Drop-in daycare12
Head Start177

The Mississippi license list

Mississippi State Department of Health, Child Care Facilities Licensure licenses daycares in Mississippi. The Mississippi license list is not on DaycarePal yet.

Listings
From public business listings: the name, address, phone, website and hours each business publishes
License
No license record is matched to these listings yet; that does not mean a daycare is unlicensed
Inspections
Not on these listings; check the state's own search
Search the Mississippi license records

Before you enroll

Applying to Head Start in Mississippi

  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.

Mississippi

Cost, inspections and ratios in Mississippi

Daycare cost in MississippiWeekly prices by age and countyStaff-to-child ratios in MississippiHow many children each adult may care forDaycare tour checklistQuestions to ask when you visit

A to Z

All 115 Mississippi towns with Head Start, A to Z

A4 towns
B9 towns
C14 towns
D4 towns
E2 towns
F4 towns
G8 towns
H7 towns
I3 towns
J2 towns
K1 town
L6 towns
M11 towns
N3 towns
O2 towns
P11 towns
Q1 town
R3 towns
S6 towns
T4 towns
U1 town
V1 town
W8 towns

Nearby

Nearby states

Tennessee316 centersLouisiana285 centersArkansas236 centersAlabama175 centers

Questions

Questions about Head Start in Mississippi

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

177 Head Start and Early Head Start centers are listed in 115 Mississippi 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 Mississippi town has the most Head Start and Early Head Start centers?

Jackson, with 9 listed. Next are Gulfport (6) and Holly Springs (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 Mississippi?

Mississippi State Department of Health, Child Care Facilities Licensure licenses daycares in Mississippi. Its license list is not on DaycarePal yet, so the listings here come from public business listings and show no license or inspection record. Use the state's own search, linked on this page, to check a daycare's license.