Head Start and Early Head Start in Tampa, FL
66 centers in Tampa (Hillsborough County). 20 offer Early Head Start, from pregnancy to age 3, and 46 offer Head Start preschool for ages 3 to 5. You apply through 4 programs, which report 2,497 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 Florida
$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 Tampa
Listed A to Z. A center may serve only some ages; the tags show which programs it runs.
Bible Based Fellowship Church of Temple Terrace
Head Start8732 N 46th St, Tampa, FL 33617
(813) 980-0559Bible Based Fellowship Church of Temple Terrace
Early Head Start8732 N 46th St, Tampa, FL 33617
(813) 980-0559Debra McNair Calhoun Head Start/Early Head Start Center
Head Start2911 E Henry Ave, Tampa, FL 33610
(813) 273-3687Debra McNair Calhoun Head Start/Early Head Start Center
Early Head Start2911 E Henry Ave, Tampa, FL 33610
(813) 273-3687ECHO Bilingual Learning Center 2
Early Head Start6535 E Hillsborough Ave, Tampa, FL 33610
(813) 443-6563
Where to apply in Tampa
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 Tampa.
- (813) 740-7870
Hillsborough County Public Schools
- (813) 272-5140
Hillsborough County Head Start
- (813) 347-7039
Eckerd Youth Alternatives Inc.
- (813) 272-5140
Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners
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 Florida
- How much childcare costsCenter, home daycare and nanny prices
- WIC income limitsFood help for pregnancy and children under 5