Skip to content
DaycarePal
Head Start

Head Start in New York

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
469
towns
199
towns have their own Head Start page
30
of all New York daycares
2%

Map of New York: 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 New York

Head Start centers (ages 3 to 5)
395
Free preschool for children from families who qualify.
Early Head Start centers (birth to 3)
248
For babies and toddlers, and many programs also serve expectant families.
on the federal Head Start site list
432
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.

New York

Largest towns for Head Start in New York

Brooklyn81 centersNew York34 centersBronx30 centersBuffalo20 centersQueens13 centersSyracuse8 centersSpring Valley7 centersRochester6 centersStaten Island6 centersIthaca5 centersMount Vernon5 centersSchenectady5 centers

Programs

Programs in New York

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 daycares18,819
Take infants2,017
Child care centers7,008
Accept subsidy229
In-home daycares11,811
Christian & church daycares284
Montessori schools223
Preschools & pre-K4,338
Early morning daycare766
Part-time daycare363
Drop-in daycare98
After-school care3,511
Bilingual daycare200
Head Start469

The New York state record

New York State Office of Children and Family Services licenses daycares in New York.

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 New York state records

Before you enroll

Applying to Head Start in New York

  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.

New York

Cost, inspections and ratios in New York

Daycare cost in New YorkWeekly prices by age and countyWhat New York inspectors citeThe rules cited most, and what they meanStaff-to-child ratios in New YorkHow many children each adult may care forTour checklist for New YorkQuestions to ask when you visit

A to Z

All 199 New York towns with Head Start, A to Z

A8 towns
B16 towns
C16 towns
D7 towns
E6 towns
F8 towns
G10 towns
H11 towns
I2 towns
J3 towns
K1 town
L11 towns
M17 towns
N13 towns
O7 towns
P12 towns
Q2 towns
R7 towns
S15 towns
T3 towns
U2 towns
V1 town
W20 towns
Y1 town

Nearby

Nearby states

Massachusetts178 centersPennsylvania174 centersNew Jersey161 centersConnecticut53 centersVermont37 centers

Questions

Questions about Head Start in New York

How many Head Start and Early Head Start centers are in New York?

469 Head Start and Early Head Start centers are listed in 199 New York 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 York town has the most Head Start and Early Head Start centers?

Brooklyn, with 81 listed. Next are New York (34) and Bronx (30).

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 York?

New York State Office of Children and Family Services licenses daycares in New York. It publishes its inspections and the rules it cited, and we copy them onto each listing.