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Head Start

Head Start in Chapel Hill, NC

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 in Chapel Hill
10
daycare centers
10
State license records

All Head Start and Early Head Start centers in Chapel Hill

Showing 1 to 10 of 10

Providers on paid plans are listed first, then the sites on the federal Head Start list, then A to Z by name. We do not rank daycares.

  1. Child care centerHead Start

    Estes Hills Prek

    500 N Estes Dr, Chapel Hill, NC

    Head StartPreschool onlyAccepts subsidy
    7 state visits · 7 rules cited (3 yrs)
    CallDirections
  5. Child care centerHead Start

    Seawell Preschool

    9115 Seawell School Road, Chapel Hill, NC

    Head StartPreschool onlyAccepts subsidy
    6 state visits · 18 rules cited (3 yrs)
    CallDirections
How this list is made: Chapel Hill daycares where the Office of Head Start lists a Head Start or Early Head Start site, plus those whose name, website or state record says Head Start. 1 of these listings come from public business listings, with no North Carolina license record matched yet. 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 Chapel Hill

Head Start centers (ages 3 to 5)
10
Free preschool for children from families who qualify.
Early Head Start centers (birth to 3)
1
For babies and toddlers, and many programs also serve expectant families.
on the federal Head Start site list
5
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.

Cost

What daycare costs in Chapel Hill

Full-time infant care in Orange County has a median of $355 a week at a center and $271 at a home daycare. A year at the center median is 22% of the county's median household income. Each daycare sets its own price, so call to ask.

Infant

Center$355
Home daycare$271

Toddler

Center$292
Home daycare$226

Preschool

Center$199
Home daycare$223

Orange County median, full time, per week. Source: U.S. Department of Labor, National Database of Childcare Prices, 2022.

Before you enroll

Applying to Head Start in Chapel Hill

  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.

Nearby

Head Start in nearby towns

Durham12 · 9 miRaleigh6 · 25 miGreensboro7 · 44 miReidsville5 · 45 miSmithfield4 · 48 miHigh Point3 · 53 miFayetteville12 · 60 miWilson4 · 64 miLexington4 · 68 mi

More in this area

More daycare in Chapel Hill

All daycares in Chapel Hill79Head Start in North CarolinaInfant Daycare in Chapel Hill32Preschools & Pre-K in Chapel Hill57Affordable Daycare in Chapel Hill40In-Home Daycares in Chapel Hill9Montessori Schools in Chapel Hill3Christian Preschools & Church Daycares in Chapel Hill7Early Morning Daycare in Chapel Hill3Part-Time Daycare in Chapel Hill3After-School Care in Chapel Hill44

Questions

Questions

How many Head Start and Early Head Start centers are in Chapel Hill?

10 Head Start and Early Head Start centers are listed in Chapel Hill. 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.

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.

Are these daycares licensed in North Carolina?

Most do: 9 of the 10 listings here come from the North Carolina child care license records. The other 1 come from public business listings, with no license record matched yet.