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Head Start and Early Head Start in Bellingham, WA

7 centers in Bellingham (Whatcom County). 5 offer Early Head Start, from pregnancy to age 3, and 4 offer Head Start preschool for ages 3 to 5. You apply through 2 programs, which report 329 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 Washington

$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 Bellingham

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

  • Birches

    Head Start

    3328 McAlpine Rd, Bellingham, WA 98225

    Run by Opportunity Council · 17 funded slots

    (360) 738-9333
    CallDirections

  • EHS Home Based Cornwall - City/County

    Early Head Start

    1201 Cornwall Ave, Ste 201, Bellingham, WA 98225

    Run by Opportunity Council · 60 funded slots

    (360) 734-8396
    CallDirections

  • Heather Commons

    Head Start

    4163 Deemer Rd, Bellingham, WA 98226

    Run by Opportunity Council · 17 funded slots

    (360) 734-8396
    CallDirections

  • Laurel Forest ELC

    Early Head StartHead Start

    421 E Laurel St, Bellingham, WA 98225

    Run by Opportunity Council · 44 funded slots

    (360) 734-8396
    CallDirections

  • Lummi Early Learning Center

    Early Head StartHead StartAmerican Indian and Alaska Native

    2645 Kwina Rd, Bellingham, WA 98226

    Run by Lummi Indian Business Council · 129 funded slots

    (360) 312-2444
    CallDirections

  • Lummi Home Base Program

    Early Head StartAmerican Indian and Alaska Native

    2520 Kwina Rd, Bellingham, WA 98226

    Run by Lummi Indian Business Council · 50 funded slots

    (360) 312-6649
    CallDirections

  • Teen Child Development Center

    Early Head StartAmerican Indian and Alaska Native

    2332 Lummi View Dr, Bellingham, WA 98226

    Run by Lummi Indian Business Council · 12 funded slots

    (360) 758-9912
    CallDirections

Where to apply in Bellingham

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 Bellingham.

  • Opportunity Council

    4 centers · Early Head Start and Head Start

    (360) 734-8396 ext. 1352

  • Lummi Indian Business Council

    3 centers · Early Head Start and Head Start

    (360) 312-2445

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

Help paying for child care

Other benefits in Washington

Having a baby in WashingtonBenefits, each with its source, checked October 2026Pregnancy MedicaidUp to 215% FPLWICYesPaid family leaveYesMedicaid pays for a doulaYesSee Washington