Head Start and Early Head Start in Wilmington, DE
8 centers in Wilmington (New Castle County). 6 offer Early Head Start, from pregnancy to age 3, and 2 offer Head Start preschool for ages 3 to 5. You apply through 4 programs, which report 371 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 Delaware
$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 Wilmington
Listed A to Z. A center may serve only some ages; the tags show which programs it runs.
Hilltop Lutheran Neighborhood Center
Early Head Start1018 W 6th St, Wilmington, DE 19805
(302) 656-3224Leslie A. Johnson Head Start/Admin Office
Head Start2401 Northeast Blvd, Wilmington, DE 19802
(302) 956-4680Neighborhood House Early Learning Center
Early Head Start1218 B St, Neighborhood House Inc,, Wilmington, DE 19801
(302) 654-1420
Where to apply in Wilmington
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 Wilmington.
- (302) 735-4096
Delaware Department of Education
- (302) 831-0584
University of Delaware
- No line reported
CDI Head Start
- (302) 452-1500
New Castle County Head Start, Inc.
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 Delaware
- How much childcare costsCenter, home daycare and nanny prices
- WIC income limitsFood help for pregnancy and children under 5