Head Start and Early Head Start in Grand Rapids, MI
11 centers in Grand Rapids (Kent County). 10 offer Early Head Start, from pregnancy to age 3, and 8 offer Head Start preschool for ages 3 to 5. You apply through 3 programs, which report 632 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 Michigan
$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 Grand Rapids
Listed A to Z. A center may serve only some ages; the tags show which programs it runs.
Boston Square Early Learning Center
Early Head Start1534 Kalamazoo Ave SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49507
(616) 247-9611Huron Potawatomi Head Start
Head StartAmerican Indian and Alaska Native1313 Bristol Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504
(616) 356-2197Jacquline Baber Bey Child Development Center YMCA
Early Head Start415 Martin Luther King Jr St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49507
(616) 855-9505Leonard Head Start
Early Head StartHead Start1708 Leonard St NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505
(616) 735-5319Plainfield Head Start
Early Head StartHead Start1710 Woodworth St NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525
(616) 454-8874Rapid Central Station - YMCA
Early Head StartHead Start250 Cesar E Chavez Ave SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(616) 735-5327South Godwin Head Start
Early Head StartHead Start28 Bellevue St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49548
(616) 735-5351Sylvan Head Start
Early Head StartHead Start1875 Rosewood Ave SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506
(616) 241-0250
Where to apply in Grand Rapids
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 Grand Rapids.
- (800) 472-6994
Michigan Family Resources
- No line reported
CDI HS/ Grand Rapids, MI ? CCP
- (906) 632-6896 ext. 159
Inter-Tribal Council of Michigan, 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 Michigan
- How much childcare costsCenter, home daycare and nanny prices
- WIC income limitsFood help for pregnancy and children under 5