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Head Start and Early Head Start in Syracuse, NY

17 centers in Syracuse (Onondaga County). 8 offer Early Head Start, from pregnancy to age 3, and 14 offer Head Start preschool for ages 3 to 5. You apply through 2 programs, which report 815 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 York

$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 Syracuse

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

  • Atonement Child Care Center

    Early Head Start

    116 W Glen Ave, Syracuse, NY 13205

    Run by The Salvation Army · 6 funded slots

    (315) 315-1193
    CallDirections

  • Atonement Day Care Center

    Head Start

    116 W Glen Ave, Syracuse, NY 13205

    Run by People's Equal Action and Community Effort, Inc. · 9 funded slots

    (315) 492-7407
    CallDirections

  • Cab Horse Commons

    Early Head Start

    677 S Salina St, Syracuse, NY 13202

    Run by The Salvation Army · 43 funded slots

    (315) 479-1193
    CallDirections

  • Cathedral at Pompei

    Head Start

    923 N McBride St, Syracuse, NY 13208

    Run by People's Equal Action and Community Effort, Inc. · 41 funded slots

    (315) 470-1415
    CallDirections

  • Elmcrest Early Education Center

    Early Head StartHead Start

    516 Prospect Ave, Syracuse, NY 13208

    Run by People's Equal Action and Community Effort, Inc. · 15 funded slots

    (315) 477-0780
    CallDirections

  • Genesee

    Early Head StartHead Start

    1125 W Genesee St, Syracuse, NY 13204

    Run by People's Equal Action and Community Effort, Inc. · 165 funded slots

    (315) 488-0987
    CallDirections

  • Grant

    Head Start

    2400 Grant Blvd, Syracuse, NY 13208

    Run by People's Equal Action and Community Effort, Inc. · 25 funded slots

    (315) 470-1415
    CallDirections

  • Hawley Youth Organization

    Head Start

    716 Hawley Ave, Syracuse, NY 13203

    Run by People's Equal Action and Community Effort, Inc. · 13 funded slots

    (315) 472-6343
    CallDirections

  • James Street

    Head Start

    1507 James St, Syracuse, NY 13203

    Run by People's Equal Action and Community Effort, Inc. · 34 funded slots

    (315) 299-4390
    CallDirections

  • Merrick Head Start/Early Head Start

    Early Head StartHead Start

    175 Hudson St, Syracuse, NY 13204

    Run by People's Equal Action and Community Effort, Inc. · 137 funded slots

    (315) 470-3349
    CallDirections

  • Onondaga Community College Daycare

    Early Head StartHead Start

    4585 W Seneca Tpke, Syracuse, NY 13215

    Run by People's Equal Action and Community Effort, Inc. · 13 funded slots

    (315) 498-2547
    CallDirections

  • Reach CNY

    Early Head Start

    1010 James St, Syracuse, NY 13203

    Run by People's Equal Action and Community Effort, Inc. · 24 funded slots

    (315) 471-8331
    CallDirections

  • Salvation Army/Cab Horse

    Head Start

    677 S Salina St, Syracuse, NY 13202

    Run by People's Equal Action and Community Effort, Inc. · 15 funded slots

    (315) 479-1112
    CallDirections

  • SCSD Dr King

    Head Start

    416 E Raynor Ave, Syracuse, NY 13202

    Run by People's Equal Action and Community Effort, Inc. · 47 funded slots

    (315) 435-4580
    CallDirections

  • SCSD Dr Weeks

    Head Start

    710 Hawley Ave, Syracuse, NY 13203

    Run by People's Equal Action and Community Effort, Inc. · 44 funded slots

    (315) 435-4097
    CallDirections

  • SCSD Franklin

    Head Start

    428 S Alvord St, Syracuse, NY 13208

    Run by People's Equal Action and Community Effort, Inc. · 54 funded slots

    (315) 435-4550
    CallDirections

  • Sumner Head Start/Early Head Start

    Early Head StartHead Start

    215 Bassett St, Syracuse, NY 13210

    Run by People's Equal Action and Community Effort, Inc. · 130 funded slots

    (315) 470-3346
    CallDirections

Where to apply in Syracuse

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 Syracuse.

  • People's Equal Action and Community Effort, Inc.

    15 centers · Early Head Start and Head Start

    (315) 470-3300 ext. 703

  • The Salvation Army

    2 centers · Early Head Start

    (315) 479-1193

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

Help paying for child care

Other benefits in New York

Having a baby in New YorkBenefits, each with its source, checked October 2026Pregnancy MedicaidUp to 223% FPLWICYesPaid family leaveYesMedicaid pays for a doulaYesSee New York