Head Start Programs in Iowa

Iowa is home to 286 federally funded head start programs. No quality rating is published for these listings; confirm licensing, hours, ages served, and costs directly with the provider. Browse by city below to find local listings.

Cities with head start programs in Iowa

Des Moines, IA 397 providers Waterloo, IA 109 providers Cedar Rapids, IA 141 providers Sioux City, IA 87 providers Council Bluffs, IA 77 providers Cedar Falls, IA 43 providers Davenport, IA 147 providers Carroll, IA 19 providers Marshalltown, IA 31 providers Iowa City, IA 72 providers West Des Moines, IA 34 providers Denison, IA 6 providers Dubuque, IA 63 providers Fort Madison, IA 13 providers Harlan, IA 7 providers Leon, IA 6 providers Monona, IA 4 providers Muscatine, IA 27 providers Ottumwa, IA 25 providers Red Oak, IA 7 providers Albia, IA 9 providers Algona, IA 12 providers Ames, IA 38 providers Bedford, IA 3 providers Bloomfield, IA 8 providers Boone, IA 12 providers Burlington, IA 44 providers Centerville, IA 5 providers Chariton, IA 5 providers Charles City, IA 22 providers Cherokee, IA 9 providers Clarksville, IA 5 providers Clear Lake, IA 10 providers Clinton, IA 21 providers Corydon, IA 4 providers Cresco, IA 9 providers Creston, IA 17 providers Douds, IA 2 providers Eldon, IA 4 providers Emmetsburg, IA 10 providers Estherville, IA 6 providers Fairfield, IA 13 providers Farmington, IA 2 providers Forest City, IA 6 providers Grinnell, IA 8 providers Hampton, IA 7 providers Hartley, IA 5 providers Independence, IA 9 providers Indianola, IA 20 providers Iowa Falls, IA 6 providers Jefferson, IA 6 providers Keokuk, IA 10 providers Knoxville, IA 9 providers Le Mars, IA 12 providers Lenox, IA 3 providers Manly, IA 6 providers Mapleton, IA 3 providers Maquoketa, IA 6 providers Marion, IA 41 providers Mason City, IA 26 providers Milford, IA 6 providers Nevada, IA 11 providers New Hampton, IA 10 providers Newton, IA 20 providers Oelwein, IA 3 providers Orange City, IA 5 providers Osceola, IA 11 providers Oskaloosa, IA 18 providers Perry, IA 12 providers Postville, IA 5 providers Rock Rapids, IA 3 providers Rock Valley, IA 4 providers Sac City, IA 5 providers Sheldon, IA 7 providers Sibley, IA 3 providers Sigourney, IA 3 providers Sioux Center, IA 7 providers Tama, IA 9 providers Vinton, IA 9 providers Waukee, IA 32 providers Waukon, IA 10 providers Waverly, IA 15 providers Anamosa, IA 5 providers Ankeny, IA 90 providers Atlantic, IA 13 providers Audubon, IA 5 providers Carter Lake, IA 4 providers Center Point, IA 6 providers Clarinda, IA 6 providers Coon Rapids, IA 2 providers Coralville, IA 28 providers Corning, IA 3 providers Dakota City, IA 3 providers Decorah, IA 12 providers Dunkerton, IA 4 providers Dyersville, IA 5 providers Eagle Grove, IA 3 providers Evansdale, IA 6 providers Fort Dodge, IA 34 providers Grundy Center, IA 7 providers Hastings, IA 1 providers Humeston, IA 3 providers Ida Grove, IA 2 providers Jesup, IA 5 providers Lake City, IA 2 providers Lamoni, IA 3 providers Manchester, IA 4 providers Mondamin, IA 2 providers Mount Pleasant, IA 7 providers Mt Pleasant, IA 1 providers Murray, IA 1 providers Onawa, IA 5 providers Panora, IA 3 providers Rockwell City, IA 3 providers Shenandoah, IA 5 providers Spencer, IA 15 providers Storm Lake, IA 8 providers Troy Mills, IA 1 providers Washington, IA 8 providers Webster City, IA 7 providers West Liberty, IA 9 providers Williamsburg, IA 9 providers Winterset, IA 11 providers

About head start programs in Iowa

Head Start and Early Head Start are federally funded programs that combine early education with nutrition, developmental screening, and family support. Programs are generally free for eligible families and prioritize children from low-income households, children in foster care, and children with disabilities.

Frequently asked questions

How many head start programs does Iowa have?

This directory covers 286 federally funded head start programs in Iowa, spread across 123 cities and counties, drawn from the Head Start Service Locations dataset (HHS/ACF).

What is the best way to compare head start programs in Iowa?

To compare Head Start programs, confirm eligibility and application steps, and ask about hours, transportation, meals, and how the program coordinates with services your family already uses. Local programs can differ in schedules and offerings. Open the city listings above to reach individual profiles.

Data sources

Sources: Head Start Service Locations. Data as of 2026-10-07.

Required disclosures

For general information only. This website shares public data and general information about child care providers. It does not offer professional advice, and it cannot replace a visit to a provider, a review of public licensing records, or a conversation with the people you trust.

Independent and unaffiliated. DaycareFacilities.org is a private, independently run directory. It is not affiliated with, nor endorsed or operated by, any government agency, child care licensing authority, or child care provider. Government agencies have not reviewed or endorsed this site.

Confirm details before acting. Provider records come from public datasets and may lag or contain errors. Always verify current licensing status, hours, availability, capacity, and costs directly with the provider and with your state or territory licensing agency.

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