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Head Start and Early Head Start in Charlotte, NC

15 centers in Charlotte (Mecklenburg County). 13 offer Early Head Start, from pregnancy to age 3, and 9 offer Head Start preschool for ages 3 to 5. You apply through 2 programs, which report 642 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 North Carolina

$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 Charlotte

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

  • Alliance Center for Education - Archdale

    Early Head StartHead Start

    1901 Archdale Dr, Charlotte, NC 28210

    Run by Alliance Center for Education, Inc. · 53 funded slots

    (980) 402-8731
    CallDirections

  • Alliance Center for Education - Brightwalk

    Early Head StartHead Start

    1240 Badger Ct, Charlotte, NC 28206

    Run by Alliance Center for Education, Inc. · 34 funded slots

    (980) 333-9954
    CallDirections

  • Alliance Center for Education - Mulberry

    Early Head StartHead Start

    6450 Tuckaseegee Rd, Charlotte, NC 28214

    Run by Alliance Center for Education, Inc. · 97 funded slots

    (980) 250-9112
    CallDirections

  • Alliance Center for Education - Oaklawn

    Early Head StartHead Start

    1920 Stroud Park Ct, Charlotte, NC 28206

    Run by Alliance Center for Education, Inc. · 40 funded slots

    (704) 575-9787
    CallDirections

  • Alliance Center for Education - Plaza

    Early Head StartHead Start

    6015 Barrington Dr, Charlotte, NC 28215

    Run by Alliance Center for Education, Inc. · 42 funded slots

    (704) 621-9014
    CallDirections

  • Alliance Center for Education - Stephanie Jennings

    Early Head StartHead Start

    3320 N Sharon Amity Rd, Charlotte, NC 28205

    Run by Alliance Center for Education, Inc. · 85 funded slots

    (980) 402-8731
    CallDirections

  • Alliance Center for Education - University

    Early Head StartHead Start

    6442 N Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28213

    Run by Alliance Center for Education, Inc. · 37 funded slots

    (704) 770-7993
    CallDirections

  • CMS BrightBeginnings - Oakdale Elementary

    Head Start

    1825 Oakdale Rd, Charlotte, NC 28216

    Run by Alliance Center for Education, Inc. · 36 funded slots

    (704) 661-5471
    CallDirections

  • CMS BrightBeginnings - Winterfield Elementary

    Head Start

    3100 Winterfield Pl, Charlotte, NC 28205

    Run by Alliance Center for Education, Inc. · 36 funded slots

    (704) 661-5471
    CallDirections

  • Dixon Academy

    Early Head Start

    2608 West Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28208

    Run by Child Care Resources Inc. · 40 funded slots

    (704) 391-9875
    CallDirections

  • First Ward CDC

    Early Head Start

    600 E 7th St, Charlotte, NC 28202

    Run by Child Care Resources Inc. · 40 funded slots

    (704) 379-7924
    CallDirections

  • Home-Based services

    Early Head Start

    700 Parkwood Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205

    Run by Alliance Center for Education, Inc. · 30 funded slots

    (980) 240-8583
    CallDirections

  • Smart Kids / Learning Jungle Lambeth

    Early Head Start

    225 Lambeth Dr, Charlotte, NC 28213

    Run by Child Care Resources Inc. · 32 funded slots

    (704) 596-4946
    CallDirections

  • Sunshine Learning Academy

    Early Head Start

    5950 the Plz, Charlotte, NC 28215

    Run by Child Care Resources Inc. · 8 funded slots

    (980) 859-0021
    CallDirections

  • The Early Learning Center

    Early Head Start

    4304 S Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28217

    Run by Child Care Resources Inc. · 32 funded slots

    (704) 391-0600
    CallDirections

Where to apply in Charlotte

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 Charlotte.

  • Alliance Center for Education, Inc.

    10 centers · Early Head Start and Head Start

    (704) 333-0203

  • Child Care Resources Inc.

    5 centers · Early Head Start

    (704) 376-6697 ext. 378

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

Help paying for child care

Other benefits in North Carolina

Having a baby in North CarolinaBenefits, each with its source, checked October 2026Pregnancy MedicaidUp to 201% FPLWICYesPaid family leaveNoMedicaid pays for a doulaNoSee North Carolina