Skip to main content
The Mom Site

Head Start and Early Head Start in Trenton, NJ

7 centers in Trenton (Mercer County). 3 offer Early Head Start, from pregnancy to age 3, and 5 offer Head Start preschool for ages 3 to 5. You apply through 2 programs, which report 550 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 New Jersey

$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 Trenton

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

  • CHSofNJ EHS, Vivan B. Shapiro Early Childhood Center (VBS)

    Early Head Start

    1435 Liberty St, Fl 2, Trenton, NJ 08629

    Run by The Children's Home Society of New Jersey · 227 funded slots

    (609) 341-1700
    CallDirections

  • CHSofNJ EHS-CCP, Trenton Central High School Center

    Early Head Start

    400 Chambers St, Trenton, NJ 08609

    Run by The Children's Home Society of New Jersey · 10 funded slots

    (609) 695-6274
    CallDirections

  • CHSofNJ HS, Bellevue Center

    Head Start

    715 Bellevue Ave, Trenton, NJ 08618

    Run by The Children's Home Society of New Jersey · 90 funded slots

    (609) 498-0713
    CallDirections

  • CHSofNJ HS, CYO / E. State Street Center

    Head Start

    794 E State St, Trenton, NJ 08609

    Run by The Children's Home Society of New Jersey · 90 funded slots

    (609) 989-8143
    CallDirections

  • CHSofNJ HS, St. Bartholomew Center

    Head Start

    1746 S Clinton Ave, Trenton, NJ 08610

    Run by The Children's Home Society of New Jersey · 30 funded slots

    (609) 393-3800
    CallDirections

  • CHSofNJ HS/EHS, Smith Santiago Center

    Early Head StartHead Start

    1198 Southard St, Trenton, NJ 08638

    Run by The Children's Home Society of New Jersey · 90 funded slots

    (609) 393-7400
    CallDirections

  • Collaborations- Kinderworld

    Head Start

    1337 Hamilton Ave, Trenton, NJ 08629

    Run by Tri-County Community Action Agency, Inc. · 13 funded slots

    (856) 453-0803
    CallDirections

Where to apply in Trenton

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 Trenton.

  • The Children's Home Society of New Jersey

    6 centers · Early Head Start and Head Start

    (609) 695-6274 ext. 137

  • Tri-County Community Action Agency, Inc.

    1 center · Head Start

    (856) 453-0803 ext. 6676

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

Help paying for child care

Other benefits in New Jersey

Having a baby in New JerseyBenefits, each with its source, checked October 2026Pregnancy MedicaidUp to 205% FPLWICYesPaid family leaveYesMedicaid pays for a doulaYesSee New Jersey