Head Start and Early Head Start in Columbus, OH
49 centers in Columbus (Franklin County). 22 offer Early Head Start, from pregnancy to age 3, and 42 offer Head Start preschool for ages 3 to 5. You apply through 3 programs, which report 1,843 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 Ohio
$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 sizeCenters in Columbus
Listed A to Z. A center may serve only some ages; the tags show which programs it runs.
A Better Choice Daycare & Learning Center
Head Start2960 E Dublin Granville Rd, Columbus, OH 43231
(614) 547-7912Chosen Kids Learning Center
Early Head StartHead Start3314 Noe Bixby Rd, Columbus, OH 43232
Columbus Early Learning Center - Alum Creek
Early Head Start1350 Alum Creek Dr, Bridgeway Academy, Columbus, OH 43209
Columbus Early Learning Center - Champion
Early Head StartHead Start240 N Champion Ave, Columbus, OH 43203
Columbus Early Learning Center - Main
Early Head StartHead Start1150 E Main St, Columbus, OH 43205
Connected Pathways Early Learning Centers, LLC
Head Start4242 Stelzer Rd, Columbus, OH 43230
(614) 414-7988CPO- Future Scholars Community Learning Center
Head Start905 E Long St, Columbus, OH 43203
(614) 389-4723Creative Child Care West
Early Head StartHead Start485 Industrial Mile Rd, Columbus, OH 43228
Directions for Youth and Families
Early Head Start1515 Indianola Ave, Columbus, OH 43201
Fresh Start Learning Academy
Early Head StartHead Start1933 Vaughn St, Columbus, OH 43223
Future Scholars Learning Academy II
Early Head StartHead Start6116 McNaughten Ctr, Columbus, OH 43232
(614) 483-9191G. Tyree Learning Center
Early Head StartHead Start1077 Lexington Ave, Columbus, OH 43201
(614) 737-4300Heavenly Kids
Early Head StartHead Start400 E Mound St, Columbus, OH 43215
Hilltop Early Learning Center
Early Head Start45 Clarendon Ave, Columbus, OH 43223
Kids Care Academy
Early Head StartHead Start3400 Kohr Blvd, Columbus, OH 43224
Little Sprouts Early Child Care Education North
Early Head StartHead Start1479 Morse Rd, Columbus, OH 43229
(614) 745-1167Little Steps Big Steps Daycare Academy
Head Start3188 E Livingston Ave, Columbus, OH 43227
(614) 914-5555Lower Lights Child Enrichment Center
Early Head Start2323 Sullivant Ave, Columbus, OH 43204
OSU Nisonger Center
Early Head Start1581 Dodd Dr, # 357, Columbus, OH 43210
Prewitt's Playhouse Early Learning Center
Head Start1860 Lockbourne Rd, Columbus, OH 43207
(614) 444-5000Schoenbaum Family Center
Early Head StartHead Start175 E 7th Ave, Columbus, OH 43201
South-Western City Schools Stiles Family Center
Head Start4702 Stiles Ave, Columbus, OH 43228
(614) 801-8394Starting Point Learning Center
Early Head StartHead Start2533 Lockbourne Rd, Columbus, OH 43207
YMCA Future Scholars Learning Center
Early Head Start905 E Long St, Columbus, OH 43203
Where to apply in Columbus
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 Columbus.
- No line reported
Child Development Council of Franklin County, Inc.
- No line reported
Ohio State University
- (614) 389-9836
YMCA of Central Ohio
New to Head Start? Who qualifies, what it costs and how applying works
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 Ohio
- How much childcare costsCenter, home daycare and nanny prices
- WIC income limitsFood help for pregnancy and children under 5