Head Start in Wisconsin
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
- 180
- towns
- 109
- towns have their own Head Start page
- 9
- of all Wisconsin daycares
- 4%
Map of Wisconsin: 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 Wisconsin
- Head Start centers (ages 3 to 5)
- 159
- Free preschool for children from families who qualify.
- Early Head Start centers (birth to 3)
- 97
- For babies and toddlers, and many programs also serve expectant families.
- on the federal Head Start site list
- 164
- 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.
Wisconsin
Largest towns for Head Start in Wisconsin
Programs
Programs in Wisconsin
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 | 4,607 |
| Take infants | 3,572 |
| Child care centers | 2,385 |
| Accept subsidy | 92 |
| In-home daycares | 2,222 |
| Christian & church daycares | 162 |
| Montessori schools | 62 |
| Preschools & pre-K | 4,400 |
| Night daycare | 1,548 |
| Early morning daycare | 3,149 |
| Part-time daycare | 169 |
| Drop-in daycare | 49 |
| After-school care | 4,500 |
| Bilingual daycare | 41 |
| Head Start | 180 |
The Wisconsin state record
Wisconsin Department of Children and Families licenses daycares in Wisconsin.
- 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 Wisconsin
- 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.
Wisconsin
Cost, inspections and ratios in Wisconsin
A to Z
All 109 Wisconsin towns with Head Start, A to Z
B13 towns
- Balsam Lake1 center
- Baraboo1 center
- Bayfield1 center
- Beaver Dam1 center
- Beloit1 center
- Berlin1 center
- Blair1 center
- Blk River Fls3 centers
- Boscobel2 centers
- Bowler1 center
- Boyd1 center
- Bruce1 center
- Brule1 center
C5 towns
- Cadott1 center
- Chippewa Fls1 center
- Crandon1 center
- Cuba City1 center
- Cudahy2 centers
D4 towns
- Darlington1 center
- De Pere1 center
- Dodgeville1 center
- Dorchester1 center
E2 towns
- Eagle River1 center
- Eau Claire3 centers
F3 towns
- Fitchburg1 center
- Fond Du Lac1 center
- Fort Atkinson2 centers
G3 towns
- Galesville1 center
- Glendale1 center
- Green Bay5 centers
I1 town
- Independence1 center
J2 towns
- Janesville1 center
- Jefferson2 centers
L5 towns
- La Crosse2 centers
- Ladysmith1 center
- Lake Delton1 center
- Lake Mills1 center
- Lancaster1 center
M14 towns
N4 towns
- Nekoosa1 center
- New London1 center
- New Richmond1 center
- Niagara1 center
P6 towns
R7 towns
- Racine3 centers
- Reedsburg1 center
- Rhinelander2 centers
- Rice Lake1 center
- Richland Ctr1 center
- Ridgeland1 center
- Ripon1 center
S13 towns
- S Milwaukee1 center
- Schofield1 center
- Seymour1 center
- Shawano1 center
- Sheboygan4 centers
- Siren1 center
- Sparta1 center
- Spooner1 center
- Stevens Point1 center
- Stoughton1 center
- Sturgeon Bay2 centers
- Sun Prairie1 center
- Superior2 centers
T4 towns
- Tomah2 centers
- Tomahawk1 center
- Turtle Lake1 center
- Two Rivers1 center
W9 towns
- Wabeno1 center
- Watertown1 center
- Waukesha2 centers
- Waupaca1 center
- Wausau1 center
- West Bend3 centers
- Wilmot1 center
- Wisc Rapids2 centers
- Wittenberg1 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 Wisconsin
How many Head Start and Early Head Start centers are in Wisconsin?
180 Head Start and Early Head Start centers are listed in 109 Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin town has the most Head Start and Early Head Start centers?
Milwaukee, with 27 listed. Next are Madison (8) and Kenosha (7).
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 Wisconsin?
Wisconsin Department of Children and Families licenses daycares in Wisconsin. It publishes inspections on its own site; use the state search linked on this page.