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Head Start and Early Head Start in El Centro, CA

5 centers in El Centro (Imperial County). 3 offer Early Head Start, from pregnancy to age 3, and 3 offer Head Start preschool for ages 3 to 5. You apply through 3 programs, which report 227 funded slots here. It's free if you qualify.

Source: Office of Head Start service locations, as of October 2026. Each program reports its own sites, so call before you visit. Closed sites are left out.

Who qualifies in California

$27,320a year or less for a family of three, or $33,000 for four. That's the 2026 federal poverty line, Head Start's income limit.

You also qualify at any income if you get TANF or SSI, your child is in foster care, or your family is homeless.

Sources: 45 CFR 1302.12; HHS poverty guidelines

Poverty guidelines for every family size

Centers in El Centro

Listed A to Z. A center may serve only some ages; the tags show which programs it runs.

  • Bears Early Head Start

    Early Head Start

    230 S Fairfield Dr, El Centro, CA 92243

    Run by Imperial County Office of Education · 24 funded slots

    (760) 482-5608
    CallDirections

  • Bears Head Start Center

    Head Start

    280 S Fairfield Dr, El Centro, CA 92243

    Run by Imperial County Office of Education · 18 funded slots

    (760) 352-2792
    CallDirections

  • El Centro Early Learning Center

    Early Head Start

    1960 N Imperial Ave, El Centro, CA 92243

    Run by Volunteers of America Southwest Corporation · 106 funded slots

    (760) 332-1420
    CallDirections

  • El Centro MHSP

    Head StartMigrant and Seasonal

    375 S 1st St, El Centro, CA 92243

    Run by Riverside County Office of Education, MHS · 54 funded slots

    (760) 337-3940
    CallDirections

  • Panthers Early Head Start and Head Start Center

    Early Head StartHead Start

    1177 N 8th St, El Centro, CA 92243

    Run by Imperial County Office of Education · 25 funded slots

    (760) 482-5647
    CallDirections

Where to apply in El Centro

You apply to the program, not to one center. Each number here is the program's enrollment line: staff check whether you qualify, tell you which centers have room, and add you to the waiting list if they're full. Counts are centers in El Centro.

  • Imperial County Office of Education

    3 centers · Early Head Start and Head Start

    (760) 312-6431

  • Riverside County Office of Education, MHS

    1 center · Head Start

    (760) 337-1555 ext. 104

  • Volunteers of America Southwest Corporation

    1 center · Early Head Start

    (909) 888-4577 ext. 202

New to Head Start? Who qualifies, what it costs and how applying works

Help paying for child care

Other benefits in California

Having a baby in CaliforniaBenefits, each with its source, checked October 2026Pregnancy MedicaidUp to 322% FPLWICYesPaid family leaveYesMedicaid pays for a doulaYesSee California