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Head Start

Head Start in Ohio

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
626
towns
273
towns have their own Head Start page
38
of all Ohio daycares
7%

Map of Ohio: 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 Ohio

Head Start centers (ages 3 to 5)
574
Free preschool for children from families who qualify.
Early Head Start centers (birth to 3)
223
For babies and toddlers, and many programs also serve expectant families.
on the federal Head Start site list
518
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.

Ohio

Largest towns for Head Start in Ohio

Cincinnati66 centersColumbus47 centersCleveland38 centersToledo33 centersAkron11 centersLima11 centersDayton10 centersYoungstown10 centersCanton8 centersSpringfield6 centersAshtabula5 centersGeorgetown5 centers

Programs

Programs in Ohio

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 daycares8,684
Take infants84
Child care centers6,888
Accept subsidy15
In-home daycares1,796
Christian & church daycares446
Montessori schools129
Preschools & pre-K922
Night daycare798
Early morning daycare2,680
Weekend daycare505
Part-time daycare28
Drop-in daycare13
After-school care224
Head Start626

The Ohio state record

Ohio Department of Children and Youth licenses daycares in Ohio.

License list
The state's public list of licensed child care
Ages served
On some licenses only; elsewhere shown where the daycare gives them
Inspections
Every visit the state publishes back to 2023
Cited rules
Each cited rule, in the state's own wording
Search the Ohio state records

Before you enroll

Applying to Head Start in Ohio

  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.

Ohio

Cost, inspections and ratios in Ohio

Daycare cost in OhioWeekly prices by age and countyWhat Ohio inspectors citeThe rules cited most, and what they meanStaff-to-child ratios in OhioHow many children each adult may care forTour checklist for OhioQuestions to ask when you visit

A to Z

All 273 Ohio towns with Head Start, A to Z

A11 towns
B18 towns
C29 towns
D6 towns
E7 towns
F10 towns
G15 towns
H11 towns
I1 town
J5 towns
K4 towns
L16 towns
M31 towns
N14 towns
O6 towns
P16 towns
R10 towns
S21 towns
T7 towns
U6 towns
V1 town
W24 towns
X1 town
Y2 towns
Z1 town

Nearby

Nearby states

Michigan427 centersKentucky278 centersPennsylvania174 centersIndiana163 centersWest Virginia80 centers

Questions

Questions about Head Start in Ohio

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

626 Head Start and Early Head Start centers are listed in 273 Ohio 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 Ohio town has the most Head Start and Early Head Start centers?

Cincinnati, with 66 listed. Next are Columbus (47) and Cleveland (38).

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 Ohio?

Ohio Department of Children and Youth licenses daycares in Ohio. It publishes its inspections and the rules it cited, and we copy them onto each listing.