Head Start and Early Head Start in San Mateo, CA

4 open Head Start and Early Head Start locations in San Mateo, from the federal Office of Head Start.

Early Head Start

Early Learning Center

24 2nd Ave, San Mateo, CA 94401

Run by Peninsula Family Service

Early Head Start

First Step Child Development Center

325 Villa Ter, San Mateo, CA 94401

Run by Peninsula Family Service

Head Start

Lakewood

65 Tower Rd, San Mateo, CA 94402

Run by Institute for Human and Social Development, Inc.

Early Head Start

Lakewood Infant/Toddler

65 Tower Rd, San Mateo, CA 94402

Run by Institute for Human and Social Development, Inc.

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) · Head Start's own center locator

Also in San Mateo

Licensed child care and after-school programs in San Mateo · Youth nonprofits in San Mateo · California program rules

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 The information is reported by each Head Start grant recipient and can be out of date, so call the center to confirm its address, hours and openings.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.