Merle Hay - Head Start Program in Des Moines, IA

Merle Hay is a federally funded head start program in Des Moines, IA (50310). No state quality rating is published for this listing; confirm licensing, services, and availability directly with the provider.

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Location: view on OpenStreetMap

Contact details

Telephone: 515-271-1854

Street address: 3800 Merle Hay Rd Ste 322, Des Moines, IA 50310

County: Polk County

How to verify Merle Hay

These programs are drawn from the Head Start Service Locations dataset published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS/ACF), which lists program locations and contacts but does not include tuition, enrollment availability, or quality ratings. Before you rely on this listing, confirm licensing, services, eligibility, and cost directly with the provider. For other state-licensed alternatives, use the state licensing directory link below.

Check state-licensed providers in the state licensing directory →

Ownership & operation

Legal name: drake_university_ia. Provider type: Early Head Start. Confirm current ownership and operation with the provider.

About head start programs in Des Moines

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.

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. For local alternatives, browse the Head Start Programs directory for Des Moines, the Polk County head start programs list, or all care types in Des Moines.

For context, this directory lists 18 head start programs in Des Moines; 19 across Polk County; 3 in ZIP 50310.

ZIP code: all care providers in ZIP 50310 · Head Start Programs in ZIP 50310

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Other head start programs in Des Moines

Head Start Program Capitol View Des Moines, IA 50316 Capacity 16 Head Start Program CFI Child Development Center Des Moines, IA 50314 Capacity 16 Head Start Program Conmigo Early Education Center Des Moines, IA 50309 Capacity 18 Head Start Program Drake University Head Start - Merle Hay Des Moines, IA 50310 Head Start Program Drake University Head Start-Highland Park Des Moines, IA 50313 Head Start Program Drake University Head Start-Southridge Des Moines, IA 50315

Nearest head start programs by distance

Head Start Program Wonder Years Academy Des Moines, IA 50310 Capacity 122.4 mi Head Start Program Taylor Des Moines, IA 50314 Capacity 993.3 mi Head Start Program Smouse (formerly Woodlawn) Des Moines, IA 50312 Capacity 893.4 mi Head Start Program House of Mercy Des Moines, IA 50314 Capacity 83.5 mi Head Start Program Drake University Head Start - St Timothy's West Des Moines, IA 50266 3.7 mi Head Start Program St. Timothy's West Des Moines, IA 50266 Capacity 153.7 mi Head Start Program Highland Park Christian Church Des Moines, IA 50313 Capacity 153.7 mi Head Start Program Ashworth West Des Moines, IA 50266 Capacity 163.8 mi

Straight-line distances estimated from ZIP-centroid coordinates, not driving distance. Confirm a provider's location directly.

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Key facts

Care typeHead Start Program
State quality ratingNot state-rated
Licensed capacity8
Ownership—
Provider typeEarly Head Start
Source record IDhs-07CH013194-11801

Frequently asked questions

Is Merle Hay rated by the state?
No. Merle Hay appears as a federally funded head start program in the Head Start Service Locations dataset (HHS/ACF), a source that does not publish state quality ratings, inspection results, or quality measures. Confirm licensing, services, and availability directly with the provider.
Is Merle Hay state-licensed?
This listing does not by itself establish state licensing. Merle Hay appears in the Head Start Service Locations dataset (HHS/ACF) under record hs-07CH013194-11801. Confirm licensing, eligibility, and availability directly with the provider.
Where is Merle Hay located?
3800 Merle Hay Rd Ste 322, Des Moines, IA 50310. The provider sits in Polk County. Contact phone: 515-271-1854.
Where does this information come from?
This listing is drawn from the Head Start Service Locations dataset (HHS/ACF) (processing date 2026-10-07). It is not a state quality record. Confirm current details directly with the provider before making care decisions.
How many head start programs are near Des Moines?
This directory lists 18 head start programs in Des Moines and 19 in Polk County, including 3 in ZIP 50310. The nearest listings, with estimated distances, are shown above.

Data provenance

Source: Head Start Service Locations (HHS/ACF) (record grant:07CH013194). Processing date: 2026-10-07. See the methodology page for normalization details. This profile is informational only and is not a substitute for visiting a provider.

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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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