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Head Start directory

Head Start and Early Head Start centers by state

14,258 open Head Start and Early Head Start locations in the 50 states and DC, from the federal Office of Head Start. Free early learning for eligible families with children from birth to age 5.

By state

Alabama197Alaska86Arizona316Arkansas165California1,658Colorado253Connecticut68Delaware29District of Columbia56Florida781Georgia298Hawaii97Idaho77Illinois494Indiana216Iowa201Kansas124Kentucky333Louisiana315Maine73Maryland170Massachusetts132Michigan511Minnesota255Mississippi223Missouri311Montana97Nebraska144Nevada53New Hampshire33New Jersey194New Mexico161New York574North Carolina380North Dakota54Ohio597Oklahoma319Oregon293Pennsylvania826Rhode Island41South Carolina182South Dakota103Tennessee358Texas1,029Utah129Vermont52Virginia282Washington281West Virginia370Wisconsin222Wyoming45

Who can enroll

Head Start serves children ages 3 to 5 (ask the center about its birthday cutoff date). Early Head Start serves pregnant women, babies and toddlers under 3. Both are free for families who qualify.

Families usually qualify when household income is at or below the federal poverty guideline for their family size, or when the family gets public assistance such as TANF or SSI, the child is in foster care, or the family is experiencing homelessness. Programs may also enroll some children from families just above the guideline, and each program sets its own application steps and waitlist, so ask the center.

Official HHS poverty guidelines (current year) ยท Head Start's own center locator

Looking for licensed child care, after-school programs or camps? Use the program finder.

Source: Head Start Service Location Dataset, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Head Start (CSV file), file dated November 8, 2026. The information is reported by each Head Start grant recipient and can be out of date, so call the center to confirm its address, hours and openings. Locations the program lists as closed are left out. Home-based locations show city and ZIP code only. A listing is not an endorsement.