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Head Start centers / California / Merced

Head Start and Early Head Start

Merced Early Learning Center

A Head Start and Early Head Start center in Merced, California, run by Merced County Superintendent of Schools.

Center details

Program: Head Start and Early Head Start

Ages served: Early Head Start: pregnant women, babies and toddlers under 3; Head Start: children ages 3 to 5

Address: 1850 Wardrobe Ave, Merced, CA 95341

County: Merced

Run by: Merced County Superintendent of Schools, Merced, CA

Federal grant ID (for reference): 09CH012639

Funded seats at this site: Head Start: 54; Early Head Start: 6. These are total funded seats, not how many are open.

Phone: (209) 381-5199

To apply, call: (209) 381-5170

Confirm on Head Start's center locator

Every Head Start program must meet federal quality rules for early learning, health and family support. When you call, ask: How do I apply and what documents do I bring? Is there a waitlist? Is the day full or part? Is there transportation?

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

More Head Start locations in Merced

Head Start

Danielson Head Start

1235 N Street, Merced, CA 95341

Run by Merced County Superintendent of Schools

Head Start

Galen Clark Head Start

213 E 11th St, Merced, CA 95341

Run by Merced County Superintendent of Schools

Early Head Start

Merced College CDC

3600 M St, Merced, CA 95348

Run by Merced County Superintendent of Schools

All Head Start locations in Merced

Other options near Merced

Licensed child care and after-school programs in Merced · California child care 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.

Something wrong? Head Start centers update their own records with the Office of Head Start; you can also tell us and we'll fix or remove this page.