Head Start and Early Head Start in San Diego, CA
40 centers in San Diego. 25 offer Early Head Start, from pregnancy to age 3, and 31 offer Head Start preschool for ages 3 to 5. You apply through 4 programs, which report 2,271 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 sizeCenters in San Diego
Listed A to Z. A center may serve only some ages; the tags show which programs it runs.
Area 1 - City College Head Start
Early Head StartHead Start1313 Park Blvd, Bldg Ecc, San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 388-3073Area 1 - Clairemont Mesa Head Start
Early Head Start4271 Clairemont Mesa Blvd, San Diego, CA 92117
(858) 581-2194Area 1 - McGill - SOS Head Start
Early Head StartHead Start3025 Fir St, San Diego, CA 92102
(619) 239-0632Area 1 - NHA STEM Institute of Early Learning
Early Head StartHead Start808 W Cedar St, San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 239-1985Area 1 - Services for Expectant Families
Early Head Start286 Euclid Ave, Ste 308, San Diego, CA 92114
(619) 684-9060Area 2 - Chollas View Head Start
Early Head StartHead Start918 N 47th St, San Diego, CA 92102
(619) 263-1780Area 2 - Valencia Park Head Start (NHA Portable)
Head Start5880 Skyline Dr, San Diego, CA 92114
(619) 262-1219Area 3 - Altadena Head Start
Early Head StartHead Start3778 Altadena Ave, San Diego, CA 92105
(619) 280-6951Area 3 - Damon R. Carson Early Learning Academy
Early Head StartHead Start4110 41st St, San Diego, CA 92105
(619) 837-8350Area 3 - Home Avenue Head Start
Early Head StartHead Start4111 Home Ave, Ste F, San Diego, CA 92105
(619) 262-8199Area 3 - John Marshall Head Start
Early Head StartHead Start3550 Altadena Ave, San Diego, CA 92105
(619) 624-2362Area 3 - Johnson Head Start NHA
Early Head StartHead Start5760 Luber St, Ste Nha, San Diego, CA 92114
(619) 798-3330Area 3 - North Park Head Start
Early Head Start2717 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92104
(619) 298-4500Area 3 - Urban Village I Head Start
Head Start3795 Fairmount Ave, # B, San Diego, CA 92105
(619) 283-2780Area 3 - Urban Village II Head Start
Early Head StartHead Start4305 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92105
(619) 284-5644Chicano Federation
Early Head StartHead Start3180 University Ave, Ste 317, San Diego, CA 92104
(619) 285-5600ECS -- Montgomery Head Start
Early Head StartHead Start3240 Palm Ave, San Diego, CA 92154
(619) 424-4027
Where to apply in San Diego
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 San Diego.
- (858) 715-2642
Neighborhood House Association
- (619) 228-2800
Episcopal Community Services
- (805) 544-4355 ext. 251
Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo County
- (619) 270-7009
AKA Head Start
New to Head Start? Who qualifies, what it costs and how applying works
Help paying for child care
- Child care assistance (subsidies) by stateWhen Head Start is full or your income is a little higher
- 2026 federal poverty guidelinesThe income table Head Start uses
- Child care cost by countyWhat daycare costs in California
- How much childcare costsCenter, home daycare and nanny prices
- WIC income limitsFood help for pregnancy and children under 5