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Head Start centers / Iowa / Des Moines

Early Head Start

Oak Academy

A Early Head Start center in Des Moines, Iowa, run by Drake University Early Head Start.

Center details

Program: Early Head Start

Ages served: Early Head Start: pregnant women, babies and toddlers under 3

Address: 1401 Center St, Des Moines, IA 50314

County: Polk

Run by: Drake University Early Head Start, Des Moines, IA

Federal grant ID (for reference): 07CH013194

Funded seats at this site: Early Head Start: 12. These are total funded seats, not how many are open.

Phone: (515) 244-7702

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 Des Moines

Head Start

Capitol View

320 E 16th St, Des Moines, IA 50316

Run by Drake University Head Start

Early Head Start

House of Mercy

1409 Clark St, Des Moines, IA 50314

Run by Drake University Early Head Start

Head Start

McKee Learning Center

2116 E 39th Ct, Des Moines, IA 50317

Run by Des Moines Public Schools Head Start

All Head Start locations in Des Moines

Other options near Des Moines

Licensed child care and after-school programs in Des Moines · Iowa 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 The information is reported by each Head Start grant recipient and can be out of date, so call the center to confirm its address, hours and openings.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.