Head Start in New Jersey
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
- 161
- towns
- 83
- towns have their own Head Start page
- 13
- of all New Jersey daycares
- 4%
Map of New Jersey: 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 New Jersey
- Head Start centers (ages 3 to 5)
- 136
- Free preschool for children from families who qualify.
- Early Head Start centers (birth to 3)
- 103
- For babies and toddlers, and many programs also serve expectant families.
- on the federal Head Start site list
- 155
- 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.
New Jersey
Largest towns for Head Start in New Jersey
Programs
Programs in New Jersey
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 | 4,080 |
| Take infants | 1,925 |
| Child care centers | 4,080 |
| Accept subsidy | 142 |
| In-home daycares | None listed |
| Christian & church daycares | 198 |
| Montessori schools | 165 |
| Preschools & pre-K | 3,329 |
| Early morning daycare | 506 |
| Part-time daycare | 369 |
| Drop-in daycare | 68 |
| After-school care | 4,080 |
| Bilingual daycare | 84 |
| Head Start | 161 |
The New Jersey state record
New Jersey Department of Children and Families, Office of Licensing licenses daycares in New Jersey.
- License list
- The state's public list of licensed child care
- Ages served
- The ages on each license
- Inspections
- On the state's own site; each listing links to it
Before you enroll
Applying to Head Start in New Jersey
- 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.
New Jersey
Cost, inspections and ratios in New Jersey
A to Z
All 83 New Jersey towns with Head Start, A to Z
A1 town
- Atlantic City1 center
B6 towns
- Bayonne3 centers
- Belleville1 center
- Bergenfield1 center
- Brick1 center
- Bridgeton3 centers
- Browns Mills1 center
C6 towns
- Camden8 centers
- Camden City1 center
- Clayton1 center
- Clementon1 center
- Cliffside Park1 center
- Clifton6 centers
E4 towns
- East Orange9 centers
- East Windsor1 center
- Egg Harbor Township2 centers
- Elizabeth1 center
F2 towns
- Flemington1 center
- Freehold1 center
G4 towns
- Garfield1 center
- Glassboro2 centers
- Glen Ridge1 center
- Gloucester Township1 center
H7 towns
- Hackensack2 centers
- Hackettstown1 center
- Hamilton4 centers
- Hammonton1 center
- Hewitt1 center
- Hoboken4 centers
- Hopatcong1 center
I1 town
- Irvington2 centers
J1 town
- Jersey City5 centers
K1 town
- Kearny1 center
L4 towns
- Lakewood2 centers
- Lindenwold1 center
- Linwood1 center
- Lumberton1 center
M4 towns
- Manchester1 center
- Mays Landing1 center
- Millville2 centers
- Montclair1 center
N5 towns
- Neptune1 center
- Newark17 centers
- Newton1 center
- North Bergen1 center
- North Brunswick2 centers
P10 towns
- Parsippany1 center
- Passaic3 centers
- Paterson2 centers
- Paulsboro1 center
- Penns Grove1 center
- Perth Amboy1 center
- Phillipsburg2 centers
- Plainfield3 centers
- Pleasantville1 center
- Pompton Lakes1 center
S4 towns
- Smithville1 center
- Somerset2 centers
- South Amboy1 center
- Swedesboro1 center
T2 towns
- Toms River1 center
- Trenton8 centers
U1 town
- Union City1 center
W7 towns
- Wantage1 center
- Washington1 center
- Wayne1 center
- Wenonah1 center
- West New York2 centers
- Williamstown2 centers
- Woodbine1 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 New Jersey
How many Head Start and Early Head Start centers are in New Jersey?
161 Head Start and Early Head Start centers are listed in 83 New Jersey 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 New Jersey town has the most Head Start and Early Head Start centers?
Newark, with 17 listed. Next are East Orange (9) and Camden (8).
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 New Jersey?
New Jersey Department of Children and Families, Office of Licensing licenses daycares in New Jersey. It publishes inspections on its own site; use the state search linked on this page.