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Head Start and Early Head Start in East Saint Louis, IL

4 centers in East Saint Louis (St. Clair County). 4 offer Early Head Start, from pregnancy to age 3, and 3 offer Head Start preschool for ages 3 to 5. You apply through one local program, which report 323 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 Illinois

$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 East Saint Louis

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

  • Discovery Center for Little Scholars

    Early Head StartHead Start

    601 James R Thompson Blvd, Building D, Room 1027, East Saint Louis, IL 62201

    Run by Southern Illinois University Edwardsville · 133 funded slots

    (618) 482-6973
    CallDirections

  • Jackie Joyner Kersee Head Start

    Early Head StartHead Start

    101 Jackie Joyner Kersee Cir, East Saint Louis, IL 62204

    Run by Southern Illinois University Edwardsville · 100 funded slots

    (618) 215-6084
    CallDirections

  • Lessie Bates Davis Neighborhood House

    Early Head StartHead Start

    1045 State St, East Saint Louis, IL 62201

    Run by Southern Illinois University Edwardsville · 66 funded slots

    (618) 875-9756
    CallDirections

  • Uni Pres Kindercottage

    Early Head Start

    564 Veronica Ave, East Saint Louis, IL 62205

    Run by Southern Illinois University Edwardsville · 24 funded slots

    (618) 874-6505
    CallDirections

Where to apply in East Saint Louis

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 East Saint Louis.

  • Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

    4 centers · Early Head Start and Head Start

    (618) 482-6955 ext. 28309

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

Help paying for child care

Other benefits in Illinois

Having a baby in IllinoisBenefits, each with its source, checked October 2026Pregnancy MedicaidUp to 213% FPLWICYesPaid family leaveNoMedicaid pays for a doulaYesSee Illinois