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Head Start

Head Start in Virginia

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
166
towns
105
towns have their own Head Start page
11
of all Virginia daycares
3%

Map of Virginia: 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 Virginia

Head Start centers (ages 3 to 5)
144
Free preschool for children from families who qualify.
Early Head Start centers (birth to 3)
58
For babies and toddlers, and many programs also serve expectant families.
on the federal Head Start site list
154
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.

Virginia

Largest towns for Head Start in Virginia

Alexandria8 centersRoanoke8 centersRichmond6 centersWilliamsburg5 centersNewport News4 centersVirginia Beach4 centersFalls Church3 centersFarmville3 centersGate City3 centersGrundy3 centersPortsmouth3 centersArlington2 centers

Programs

Programs in Virginia

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 daycares4,997
Take infants2,378
Child care centers3,469
Accept subsidy2,729
In-home daycares1,528
Christian & church daycares907
Montessori schools265
Preschools & pre-K4,133
24-hour daycare73
Night daycare348
Early morning daycare1,816
Weekend daycare78
Part-time daycare342
Drop-in daycare64
After-school care3,939
Bilingual daycare93
Head Start166

The Virginia state record

Virginia Department of Education, Office of Child Care Health and Safety licenses daycares in Virginia.

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 2012
Cited rules
The inspector's finding, in the state's own words
Search the Virginia state records

Before you enroll

Applying to Head Start in Virginia

  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.

Virginia

Cost, inspections and ratios in Virginia

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

A to Z

All 105 Virginia towns with Head Start, A to Z

A10 towns
B12 towns
C12 towns
D6 towns
E2 towns
F4 towns
G6 towns
H7 towns
I1 town
K1 town
L3 towns
M6 towns
N6 towns
O1 town
P6 towns
Q1 town
R5 towns
S6 towns
V2 towns
W7 towns
Y1 town

Nearby

Nearby states

North Carolina412 centersTennessee316 centersKentucky278 centersMaryland93 centersWest Virginia80 centersDistrict of Columbia39 centers

Questions

Questions about Head Start in Virginia

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

166 Head Start and Early Head Start centers are listed in 105 Virginia 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 Virginia town has the most Head Start and Early Head Start centers?

Alexandria, with 8 listed. Next are Roanoke (8) and Richmond (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 Virginia?

Virginia Department of Education, Office of Child Care Health and Safety licenses daycares in Virginia. It publishes its inspections and the rules it cited, and we copy them onto each listing.