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Head Start and Early Head Start in Utica, NY

6 centers in Utica (Oneida County). 3 offer Early Head Start, from pregnancy to age 3, and 6 offer Head Start preschool for ages 3 to 5. You apply through one local program, which report 264 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 Utica

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

  • Calvary Center

    Head Start

    308 South St, Utica, NY 13501

    Run by Mohawk Valley Community Action Agency, Inc. · 74 funded slots

    (315) 624-9930
  • Cornerstone

    Early Head StartHead Start

    1100 Miller St, Utica, NY 13501

    Run by Mohawk Valley Community Action Agency, Inc. · 30 funded slots

    (315) 624-9930
  • John F. Hughes

    Head Start

    24 Prospect St, Utica, NY 13501

    Run by Mohawk Valley Community Action Agency, Inc. · 15 funded slots

    (315) 624-9930
  • Kernan Elementary School

    Head Start

    929 York St, Utica, NY 13502

    Run by Mohawk Valley Community Action Agency, Inc. · 32 funded slots

    (315) 624-9930
  • Ney Ave Center

    Early Head StartHead Start

    1110 Ney Ave, Utica, NY 13502

    Run by Mohawk Valley Community Action Agency, Inc. · 76 funded slots

    (315) 624-9930
  • River Road Center

    Early Head StartHead Start

    9882 River Rd, Utica, NY 13502

    Run by Mohawk Valley Community Action Agency, Inc. · 37 funded slots

    (315) 624-9930

Where to apply in Utica

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 Utica.

  • Mohawk Valley Community Action Agency, Inc.

    6 centers · Early Head Start and Head Start

    (315) 624-9930 ext. 2251

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