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Head Start and Early Head Start in Columbia, SC

7 centers in Columbia (Richland County). 5 offer Early Head Start, from pregnancy to age 3, and 2 offer Head Start preschool for ages 3 to 5. You apply through 3 programs, which report 445 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 South 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 Columbia

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

  • Arthurtown Child Development Center

    Early Head Start

    223 Riley St, Columbia, SC 29201

    Run by Vital Connections of the Midlands, Inc · 24 funded slots

    (803) 254-9400
    CallDirections

  • Children's Garden Child Development Center

    Early Head Start

    1135 Blue Ridge Ter, Columbia, SC 29203

    Run by Vital Connections of the Midlands, Inc · 16 funded slots

    (803) 333-0608
    CallDirections

  • Pineview Head Start Center

    Head Start

    1916 Pineview Dr, Columbia, SC 29209

    Run by Gleamns Human Resource Commission, Inc. · 140 funded slots

    (803) 695-1311
    CallDirections

  • RCFS Home Based

    Early Head Start

    1800 Saint Julian Pl, Ste 406, Columbia, SC 29204

    Run by Richland County First Steps · 37 funded slots

    (803) 553-1814
    CallDirections

  • Richland County First Steps at Ridgewood Missionary Baptist

    Early Head Start

    5324 Ridgeway St, Columbia, SC 29203

    Run by Richland County First Steps · 32 funded slots

    (803) 553-1814
    CallDirections

  • Richland County First Steps at Virginia Wingard United Methodist Church

    Early Head Start

    1500 Broad River Rd, Columbia, SC 29210

    Run by Richland County First Steps · 56 funded slots

    (803) 704-5205
    CallDirections

  • St. Andrews Head Start Center

    Head Start

    1400 Saint Andrews Rd, Columbia, SC 29210

    Run by Gleamns Human Resource Commission, Inc. · 140 funded slots

    (803) 750-0053
    CallDirections

Where to apply in Columbia

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 Columbia.

  • Richland County First Steps

    3 centers · Early Head Start

    (803) 553-1814

  • Gleamns Human Resource Commission, Inc.

    2 centers · Head Start

    (864) 223-8434 ext. 8811

  • Vital Connections of the Midlands, Inc

    2 centers · Early Head Start

    (803) 394-5101

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

Help paying for child care

Other benefits in South Carolina

Having a baby in South CarolinaBenefits, each with its source, checked October 2026Pregnancy MedicaidUp to 199% FPLWICYesPaid family leaveVoluntaryMedicaid pays for a doulaNoSee South Carolina