Head Start and Early Head Start in Minnesota
251 centers in 165 cities and towns, run by 36 programs. 134 offer Early Head Start, from pregnancy to age 3, and 212offer Head Start preschool for ages 3 to 5. 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 Minnesota
$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 sizeHead Start by city in Minnesota
10 cities have 3 or more centers and a page of their own, most centers first.
- Saint Paul18 centers
- Duluth8 centers
- Minneapolis8 centers
- Rochester7 centers
- Saint Cloud5 centers
- Alexandria3 centers
- Cloquet3 centers
- Detroit Lakes3 centers
- Park Rapids3 centers
- Winona3 centers
Where to apply in Minnesota
You apply to a program, not to one center. Each number here is the program's enrollment line: staff can tell you which of its centers have room and add you to a waiting list.
- (651) 603-5977
Community Action Partnership of Ramsey
- (800) 832-6082 ext. 144
Lakes & Pines Community Action Council, Inc.
- (320) 235-0850 ext. 621
United Community Action Partnership, Inc.
- (218) 748-7351
Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency, Inc.
- (218) 281-5832
Tri-Valley Opportunity Council, Inc.
- (612) 374-8309
Parents In Community Action, Inc.
- (218) 405-3019
West Central Minnesota Communities Action, Inc.
- (507) 345-6822 ext. 2410
Minnesota Valley Action Council, Inc.
- (218) 528-3227
Northwest Community Action, Inc.
- (507) 287-2009
Child Care Resource and Referral, Inc.
- (218) 847-1385
Mahube-Otwa Community Action Partnership, Inc.
- (320) 598-3118
Prairie Five Community Action Council, Inc.
- (866) 808-0260
Semcac
- (218) 336-8815
Independent School District #709
- (651) 322-3541
Scott-Carver-Dakota CAP Agency, Inc.
- (320) 632-3691 ext. 9054
Tri County Community Action Partnership, Inc.
- (320) 963-6500 ext. 228
Wright County Community Action, Inc.
- (763) 783-4300
Anoka County Community Action Program, Inc.
- (218) 935-6257
White Earth Ojibwe/ Reservation Business Committee
- (218) 335-8345
Leech Lake Reservation Business Committee Inc.
- (320) 253-8110
Reach-Up, Inc.
- (507) 316-0610
Three Rivers Community Action, Inc.
- (218) 333-9873
Bi-County Community Action Program, Inc.
- (218) 999-0814
Kootasca Community Action, Inc.
- (320) 532-7590 ext. 4402
Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe
- (218) 512-1516
Lakes & Prairies Community Action Partnership, Inc
- (218) 757-3261 ext. 3
Bois Forte Reservation Tribal Government
- (218) 796-5144 ext. 5
Inter-County Community Council, Inc.
- (218) 679-3396
Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians
- (507) 376-4195
Southwestern Minnesota Opportunity Council, Inc.
- (218) 878-8100
Fond du Lac Early Head Start
- (218) 878-8107
Fond du Lac Head Start
- (218) 475-2503
Grand Portage Head Start
- (218) 475-2503
Grand Portage Reservation Tribal Council
- (218) 512-1516
Lakes and Prairies CAP, Inc.
- No line reported
Lower Sioux Indian Community in the State of Minnesota
Centers in smaller towns in Minnesota
190 centers in 155 towns with fewer than 3 centers each, A to Z.
Ada · 1
Aitkin · 2
- (320) 679-1800
Aitkin Home Based
- (320) 679-1800
Kidz Zone Child Care Partnership Aitkin
Albert Lea · 2
- (507) 287-2009
Albert Lea Head Start
- (507) 473-1057
Children's Center
Annandale · 1
- (320) 274-3318
Annandale
Apple Valley · 1
- (651) 322-3541
Apple Valley Head Start
Appleton · 1
- (320) 289-1611
Appleton
Aurora · 1
- (218) 410-9274
East Range EHS Home Base
Austin · 1
- (507) 703-0977
Austin
Babbitt · 1
- (218) 827-3101
K-Ready Preschool
Badger · 2
- (218) 528-3201
Badger Center
- (218) 528-3227
NW EHS Moms
Bagley · 1
- (218) 694-3564
Rice Lake Head Start
Barnum · 1
- (218) 389-9807
Barnum Child Care Partnership
Baudette · 1
- (218) 528-3227
LOW County EHS
Baxter · 1
- (218) 454-1877
Baxter Center
Bemidji · 2
- (218) 444-8480
Bemidji Head Start
- (218) 333-9864
Bemidji Head Start and Early Head Start
Bena · 1
- (218) 335-8345
Bena
Benson · 1
- (320) 843-2710
Benson
Bethel · 1
- (866) 801-6450
Bethel
Big Lake · 1
- (763) 262-7104
Big Lake
Blackduck · 1
- (218) 333-9920
Blackduck Head Start and Early Head Start
Blue Earth · 2
- (800) 569-1379
Blue Earth
- (507) 526-5458
Blue Earth Head Start Center
Brainerd · 2
- (320) 632-3691
Bethlehem
- (218) 829-2410
Brainerd Center
Brandon · 1
- (320) 770-1984
WCMCA Head Start-Brandon
Breckenridge · 1
- (866) 677-3656
Breckenridge
Brooklyn Center · 2
- (763) 535-7422
Aubrey Della
- (612) 425-7422
Town Hall
Buffalo · 1
- (320) 963-6500
Buffalo
Cambridge · 2
- (320) 679-1800
Cambridge School Partnership
- (320) 679-1800
Isanti Home Based
Canby · 1
- (507) 223-2006
Canby
Cass Lake · 1
- (218) 335-8345
Abinojii Oshki Bimadiziwin
Chaska · 1
- (952) 567-8209
Chaska
Chisago City · 1
- (320) 679-1800
Lakes and Pines Head Start Chisago
Chisholm · 2
- (218) 410-5356
Chisholm Head Start
- (218) 410-8157
Northern Tier & CHIC EHS
Coon Rapids · 2
- (763) 784-4386
Crayon Box Child Care Center - Coon Rapids
- (763) 783-4300
Family Development Center
Cosmos · 1
- (320) 235-0850
Cosmos Head Start
Crookston · 1
- (218) 281-1343
Crookston
Cyrus · 1
- (320) 760-2273
Pope Co. Early Head Start
Danube · 1
- (320) 826-2147
Danube
Deer River · 2
- (218) 335-8345
Ball Club
- (218) 246-8860
Deer River King
Delano · 1
- (763) 972-8120
Delano
Dilworth · 2
- (218) 512-1500
Dilworth
- (218) 512-1531
Dilworth
Eagan · 2
- (651) 322-3536
Eagan Coachman Head Start
- (651) 306-7526
Eagan Opperman Head Start
East Grand Forks · 1
- (218) 773-8452
East Grand Forks
Elbow Lake · 1
- (218) 770-9219
WCMCA Head Start-Elbow Lake
Elgin · 1
- (800) 201-3464
Elgin
Elysian · 1
- (507) 267-4373
Elysian
Eveleth · 2
- (218) 410-9144
Eveleth Head Start
- (218) 750-1378
Preschool Home Base, Quad 1 EHS
Fairmont · 1
- (507) 235-9671
Fairmont Head Start Center
Faribault · 1
- (507) 333-6450
Faribault Head Start Center
Farmington · 1
- (651) 322-3535
Farmington
Fergus Falls · 1
- (218) 218-4486
WCMCA Head Start-Fergus Falls
Finlayson · 1
- (320) 679-1800
Pine Home-Based
Forest Lake · 1
- (612) 437-0514
Lakes Head Start Center
Frazee · 2
- (218) 396-9206
Frazee Business Center
- (218) 334-2052
Frazee Center
Fridley · 1
- (763) 574-0258
Crayon Box Child Care Center - Fridley
Gaylord · 1
- (507) 237-5438
Sibley County Head Start Home Base
Glencoe · 2
- (320) 864-6635
Glencoe
- (320) 864-6469
Glencoe Center
Golden Valley · 1
- (763) 541-7422
Helen H. Taylor
Graceville · 1
- (320) 325-5224
Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley
Grand Portage · 2
- (218) 475-2503
Grand Portage Head Start
- (218) 475-2503
Grand Portage Head Start
Grand Rapids · 1
- (218) 999-0814
Grand Rapids Early Childhood Hub
Granite Falls · 1
- (320) 564-4081
Granite Falls
Grygla · 1
- (218) 294-6155
Grygla Center
Hermantown · 1
- (218) 410-8339
Southern Tier EHS Home Base
Hibbing · 2
- (218) 996-1660
Hibbing EHS, West Range EHS
- (218) 421-6305
Hibbing Head Start
Hinckley · 1
- (320) 532-7590
Mooka' amookwe Early Childhood Center
Howard Lake · 1
- (320) 543-2955
Howard Lake
Hutchinson · 1
- (320) 234-6306
Hutchinson Head Start
International Falls · 1
- (218) 283-9491
International Falls
Jackson · 2
- (320) 235-0850
Jackson
- (320) 235-0850
Jackson EHS
Karlstad · 1
- (218) 528-3227
Kittson County EHS
Kasson · 1
- (507) 251-6322
Kasson Center
Kerkhoven · 1
- (320) 598-3118
Kerkhoven
LA Crescent · 1
- (507) 895-5115
La Crescent-Hokah ISD #300
Lake City · 1
- (507) 732-7391
Bluff View Center
Lanesboro · 1
- (507) 765-9953
Eagle Bluff Partnership
Le Center · 1
- (507) 357-4205
LeCenter Head Start Center/ Le Sueur Co. Home Base
Le Roy · 1
- (866) 808-0260
Leroy Head Start
Litchfield · 1
- (320) 693-3645
Litchfield Center
Little Falls · 1
- (320) 632-3691
Little Falls
Long Prairie · 2
- (320) 894-5400
Long Prairie CentraCare
- (320) 733-4101
Long Prairie Grey Eagle
Madison · 1
- (320) 598-3118
Madison
Mahnomen · 2
- (218) 847-1385
Mahnomen EHS Center
- (218) 936-3015
Mahnomen Head Start
Mankato · 1
- (507) 345-1485
Mankato Head Start Center
Marble · 1
- (218) 247-7306
Marble
Marshall · 1
- (320) 235-0850
Marshall Head Start
McGregor · 1
- (218) 768-2051
Mille Lacs Early Education: District 2--East Lake Early Education
Menahga · 1
- (218) 539-0516
WCMCA Head Start-Menahga
Milaca · 1
- (320) 679-1800
Mille Lacs Home-based
Montevideo · 2
- (320) 269-6471
Montevideo 2
- (320) 226-3770
Montevideo Head Start Preschool
Monticello · 2
- (800) 201-3460
Monticello
- (320) 963-6500
Monticello
Montrose · 1
- (763) 682-8478
Montrose
Moorhead · 2
- (218) 512-1527
Belsly
- (218) 512-1500
Family Service Center
Moose Lake · 1
- (320) 679-1800
Carlton Home Based
Mora · 1
- (320) 320-1800
Lakes and Pines Head Start Mora
Morris · 1
- (320) 760-2276
WCMCA Head Start-Morris
Morton · 1
- (507) 507-8254
Cansayapi Wakanyeza Owayawa Oti- Lower Sioux Early Head Start and Head Start
Mountain Lake · 1
- (320) 235-0850
Mountain Lake
Naytahwaush · 1
- (218) 983-3285
Naytahwaush Head Start
Nett Lake · 1
- (218) 757-3261
Nett Lake Center
New Ulm · 1
- (507) 441-1485
New Ulm Head Start Center/Brown Co. Home Base
Newfolden · 1
- (218) 528-3227
Marshall County EHS
Newport · 1
- (763) 783-5056
Newport Head Start Center
North Branch · 2
- (320) 679-1800
Chisago Home-Based
- (320) 679-1800
North Branch School Partnershp
North St Paul · 1
- (651) 403-1358
North St Paul
Northfield · 1
- (507) 664-3781
Northfield Head Start Center
Oakdale · 1
- (763) 783-5060
Oakdale Head Start Center
Ogilvie · 1
- (320) 679-1800
Kanabec Home Based
Oklee · 1
- (218) 796-5144
Red Lake County
Olivia · 1
- (320) 523-2264
Olivia Center
Onamia · 2
- (320) 679-1800
Kidz Zone Child Care Partnership Onamia
- (320) 532-7590
Mille Lacs Early Education: District 1-Wewinabi Early Education
Otsego · 1
- (763) 923-9233
Otsego
Owatonna · 2
- (507) 455-2203
Owatonna
- (507) 414-6656
Owatonna Centers 1 - 2
Pelican Rapids · 1
- (218) 685-4486
WCMCA Head Start-Pelican Rapids
Perham · 1
- (218) 685-4486
WCMCA Head Start-Perham
Pierz · 1
- (320) 493-5420
Pierz Elementary
Pine City · 2
- (320) 629-5147
Pine City Child Care Partnership
- (320) 679-1800
Pine City School Partnership
Pine River · 1
- (218) 587-3323
Pine River / Backus Head Start
Pipestone · 1
- (507) 825-4421
Pipestone Head Start
Ponemah · 1
- (218) 554-7331
Ponemah Head Start Site
Ponsford · 1
- (218) 573-4109
Pine Point Head Start
Princeton · 1
- (320) 679-1800
Princeton Combination
Proctor · 1
- (218) 750-0398
Proctor & Hermantown Head Start
Red Wing · 1
- (651) 385-8000
Red Wing Center-base
Redlake · 1
- (218) 679-3396
Red Lake Head Start
Redwood Falls · 1
- (320) 235-0850
Redwood Falls
Richfield · 1
- (612) 861-7422
South Branch
Roseau · 2
- (218) 463-3225
Roseau Center
- (218) 528-3227
Roseau County EHS 1
Rosemount · 1
- (651) 322-3529
Rosemount
Saint James · 1
- (507) 375-5748
St. James Head Start Center/Watonwan Co. Home Base
Saint Peter · 1
- (507) 934-5226
St. Peter Head Start Center/Nicollet County Home Base
Sandstone · 1
- (320) 384-7162
Mille Lacs Early Education: District 3--Lake Lena Early Education
Savage · 1
- (651) 322-3515
Hamilton
Shakopee · 1
- (651) 322-3515
Shakopee Head Start
Sherburn · 1
- (507) 764-6955
Sherburn Head Start Home Base
Sleepy Eye · 1
- (507) 794-7911
Sleepy Eye
Spicer · 1
- (320) 796-0687
Prarie Meadows Center
Spring Grove · 1
- (507) 498-3221
Spring Grove ISD #297
Staples · 1
- (320) 632-3691
Staples
Thief River Falls · 1
- (218) 796-5144
Thief River Falls
Tower · 1
- (218) 753-2024
Vermilion Center
Tracy · 2
- (320) 235-0850
Tracy Head Start
- (320) 235-0850
Tracy Toddler
Two Harbors · 2
- (218) 623-3034
Lake County EHS Home Base
- (218) 834-8221
Two Harbors Head Start
Viking · 1
- (218) 874-8805
Viking Center
Virginia · 2
- (218) 749-5437
Virginia Head Start
- (218) 750-1451
Virginia Infant and Toddler Center
Wadena · 1
- (218) 685-4486
WCMCA Head Start-Wadena
Walker · 2
- (218) 335-8345
Abinoojii Akii/Onigum Head Start
- (218) 547-4392
Walker Head Start
Warroad · 2
- (218) 528-3227
Roseau County EHS 4
- (218) 386-1472
Warroad Center
Waseca · 1
- (507) 835-1282
Waseca Head Start Center/Waseca County Home Base
Waubun · 1
- (218) 473-3220
Waubun Head Start
Wells · 1
- (507) 553-5099
Wells Head Start
White Earth · 1
- (218) 983-3285
White Earth Head Start
Willmar · 2
- (320) 212-6754
Creative Kids
- (320) 235-0850
Willmar Head Start
Windom · 1
- (320) 235-0850
Windom
Worthington · 1
- (507) 727-1759
Worthington Center
Zumbrota · 1
- (507) 732-7391
Zumbrota Head Start Center
Head Start in nearby states
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 Minnesota
- How much childcare costsCenter, home daycare and nanny prices
- WIC income limitsFood help for pregnancy and children under 5