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Head Start

Head Start in North Carolina

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
412
towns
207
towns have their own Head Start page
31
of all North Carolina daycares
6%

Map of North Carolina: 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 North Carolina

Head Start centers (ages 3 to 5)
355
Free preschool for children from families who qualify.
Early Head Start centers (birth to 3)
165
For babies and toddlers, and many programs also serve expectant families.
on the federal Head Start site list
316
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.

North Carolina

Largest towns for Head Start in North Carolina

Charlotte14 centersAsheville13 centersShelby13 centersDurham12 centersFayetteville12 centersWinston-Salem11 centersChapel Hill10 centersGoldsboro10 centersHendersonville8 centersJacksonville8 centersGreensboro7 centersRaleigh6 centers

Programs

Programs in North Carolina

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 daycares6,565
Take infants3,301
Child care centers5,566
Accept subsidy3,210
In-home daycares999
Christian & church daycares605
Montessori schools132
Preschools & pre-K5,228
Early morning daycare970
Part-time daycare171
Drop-in daycare37
After-school care4,110
Bilingual daycare13
Head Start412

The North Carolina state record

North Carolina Division of Child Development and Early Education licenses daycares in North Carolina.

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
Corrections
Correction dates as the state records them
Search the North Carolina state records

Before you enroll

Applying to Head Start in North Carolina

  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.

North Carolina

Cost, inspections and ratios in North Carolina

Daycare cost in North CarolinaWeekly prices by age and countyWhat North Carolina inspectors citeThe rules cited most, and what they meanStaff-to-child ratios in North CarolinaHow many children each adult may care forTour checklist for North CarolinaQuestions to ask when you visit

A to Z

All 207 North Carolina towns with Head Start, A to Z

A9 towns
B14 towns
C20 towns
D5 towns
E12 towns
F9 towns
G7 towns
H12 towns
I1 town
J3 towns
K7 towns
L12 towns
M15 towns
N7 towns
O1 town
P5 towns
R16 towns
S24 towns
T6 towns
V1 town
W18 towns
Y2 towns
Z1 town

Nearby

Nearby states

Tennessee316 centersGeorgia291 centersSouth Carolina179 centersVirginia166 centers

Questions

Questions about Head Start in North Carolina

How many Head Start and Early Head Start centers are in North Carolina?

412 Head Start and Early Head Start centers are listed in 207 North Carolina 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 North Carolina town has the most Head Start and Early Head Start centers?

Charlotte, with 14 listed. Next are Asheville (13) and Shelby (13).

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 North Carolina?

North Carolina Division of Child Development and Early Education licenses daycares in North Carolina. It publishes its inspections and the rules it cited, and we copy them onto each listing.