Quick Facts

    • baby boy toothbrush in mouth

      Among Head Start preschool-age children, 85% received preventive dental care and 88% have completed a professional dental examination during the 2010-2011 program year.

    • nurse doctor boy

      At the end of the 2010-2011 program year: 96% of Head Start children had health insurance; 97% had a medical home; 93% had appropriate immunizations; and 90% were up-to-date on their state schedule of well child care visits.

    • girl with walker

      In 2011, 12% of Head Start children had disabilities, and 99% of these children received special services.

    • boy resting head on pregnant stomach

      Through Early Head Start, more than 16,000 pregnant women received services to support the health and development of their babies in 2011.

    • three kids playing

      Head Start programs operate in 57,000 classrooms in 50 states, the District of Columbia, and six territories.

    • woman teacher with kids around a table

      30% of Head Start participants speak a language other than English at home, representing more than 140 languages.

    • Women working at a table
      Over 1.3 million adults

      volunteered in Head Start programs in 2011

      Nearly 870,000 of whom were parents.

    • Woman with kids holding Head Start banner

      Since 1965, Head Start has provided comprehensive services to nearly 30 million children and their families.