Preschool, toddler and infant options available
Arrowhead Head Start is accepting preschool registrations for the 2026-2027 school year. Parents and caregivers of three and 4-year-old children are encouraged to apply to the school readiness program.
Orientation for all preschool classrooms is on Tuesday, Sept. 8. Classes begin Wednesday, Sept. 9. Arrowhead Head Start classrooms are located in Babbitt, Chisholm, Eveleth, Hermantown, Hibbing, Proctor, Two Harbors and Virginia. Classes are held Monday through Thursday, hours vary by site.
If you do not live in a city where a Head Start classroom is located, but are within Lake and St. Louis counties (outside of Duluth), Head Start services may be available to you. In Duluth, school districts administer their own Head Start programs.
Arrowhead Head Start is free for families who qualify. Head Start households typically have incomes below federal poverty lines. Priority is given to income-sensitive families, however up to 10 percent of families can have higher household incomes. Arrowhead Head Start is an Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency program. The agency has been educating area children for more than 60 years.
Responding to the demand for early childhood needs on the Iron Range, AEOA opened Virginia Infant & Toddler Center, on Aug. 3. The center, located in Pine Mill Court, is presently educating toddlers; infants will join in the coming weeks.
Virginia Infant & Toddler Center has the capacity to care for eight toddlers from 18-months to 3-years-old and eight babies age 6-weeks to up to 18-months old. Arrowhead Early Head Start currently has openings for infants and is accepting applications.
Arrowhead Head Start’s early childhood program offers health, nutrition, mental health, disability and family support services. Pregnant mothers through the baby’s first 6-weeks may be eligible for home visits. Like the preschool program, home visits and services at the Virginia Infant & Toddler Center are free of charge to qualifying families.
Previously, Arrowhead Head Start offered bussing in most locations to help children get to Head Start classrooms safely. Unfortunately, due to funding, bus service is no longer available.
To inquire on class availability contact Jerry Crittenden at jerry.crittenden@aeoa.org or (218) 748-7315. Applications can be completed on the AEOA website: www.aeoa.org/programs/education/headstart.