Skip to content
DaycarePal
Head Start

Head Start in South 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
179
towns
114
towns have their own Head Start page
13
of all South Carolina daycares
8%

Map of South 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 South Carolina

Head Start centers (ages 3 to 5)
139
Free preschool for children from families who qualify.
Early Head Start centers (birth to 3)
98
For babies and toddlers, and many programs also serve expectant families.
on the federal Head Start site list
162
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.

South Carolina

Largest towns for Head Start in South Carolina

Greenville9 centersLancaster8 centersColumbia6 centersSpartanburg6 centersSumter6 centersCharleston5 centersFlorence5 centersMoncks Corner5 centersAnderson3 centersBeaufort3 centersDenmark3 centersGeorgetown3 centers

Programs

Programs in South 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 daycares2,292
Take infants311
Child care centers1,604
Accept subsidy31
In-home daycares688
Christian & church daycares293
Montessori schools68
Preschools & pre-K338
Early morning daycare361
Part-time daycare103
Drop-in daycare38
Bilingual daycare20
Head Start179

The South Carolina state record

South Carolina Department of Social Services, Division of Early Care and Education licenses daycares in South Carolina.

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

Before you enroll

Applying to Head Start in South 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.

South Carolina

Cost, inspections and ratios in South Carolina

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

A to Z

All 114 South Carolina towns with Head Start, A to Z

A6 towns
B5 towns
C14 towns
D3 towns
E6 towns
F2 towns
G6 towns
H10 towns
J3 towns
K1 town
L10 towns
M11 towns
N3 towns
O1 town
P6 towns
R6 towns
S11 towns
T3 towns
V2 towns
W4 towns
Y1 town

Nearby

Nearby states

North Carolina412 centersGeorgia291 centers

Questions

Questions about Head Start in South Carolina

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

179 Head Start and Early Head Start centers are listed in 114 South 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 South Carolina town has the most Head Start and Early Head Start centers?

Greenville, with 9 listed. Next are Lancaster (8) and Columbia (6).

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 South Carolina?

South Carolina Department of Social Services, Division of Early Care and Education licenses daycares in South Carolina. It publishes its inspections and the rules it cited, and we copy them onto each listing.