Orange County Head Start & VPI Programs
Head Start Preschool
Ages 3 and 4 years old
Early Head Start Preschool
Ages 6 weeks to 3 years old
VPI Preschool (State Funded)
Ages 4 years old by Sept. 30th of each school year.
This website is supported by Grant Number 03CH012297 from the Office of Head Start within the Administration for Children and Families, a division of the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. Neither the Administration for Children and Families nor any of its components operate, control, are responsible for, or necessarily endorse with website (including, without limitation, its content, technical infrastructure, and policies and any services or tools provided). The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed are those of the Head Start and VPI Stakeholders Board.
We are currently accepting applications for the
26-27 school year.
Children are accepted under the USDA Poverty Guidelines found here: https://aspe.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/dd73d4f00d8a819d10b2fdb70d254f7b/detailed-guidelines-2025.pdf
Apply online or call our office at 540-661-4470. Children are accepted midyear if space is available.
Contact Us
Office: (540) 661-4470
Fax: (540) 661-4478
Program Staff
Heidi Lohr
Director
Charde Ferguson
Education Specialist
Keisha Gourdine-Arnold
Family Systems Specialist
Enrollment Coordinator
Emily May
Health & Nutrition Compliance Manager
TBD
Cary King
Bookkeeper
cking@ocss-va.org
How Do I Apply?
Orange County Head Start & VPI Programs are a central point of entry for several different pre-kindergarten options. These include federally-funded Head Start & Early Head Start serving children birth to five and state-funded Virginia Preschool Initiative serving four-year-olds only and who will be attending kindergarten the following school year.
We offer part-day classes from 8:00 am-1:00 pm or 8:00 am - 2:30 pm, five days a week. (Full day classes given first to families with a work schedule.)
*Please note applications are not reviewed until all components/paperwork are turned in.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER I APPLY?
Applying to Head Start is an amazing first step for a child's education, but it is important to know that submitting an application doesn't mean your child is automatically accepted.
Because Head Start is a federally funded program with limited spots, it doesn't work on a first-come, first-served basis. Instead, every single application goes through a formal review process. Here is exactly how it works:
The Paperwork First: Before anything else can happen, all of the paperwork must be turned in. This includes things like proof of income, your child's birth certificate, and residency documents. If a document is missing, the process stalls.
The Eligibility Committee: Once your file is 100% complete, it goes before an official Eligibility Committee. Their job is to verify that your family meets the program's requirements.
The Ranking System: Head Start uses a point system to rank applications based on specific criteria. Families with the highest need are prioritized first.
Final Selection: Available spots are filled starting from the top of that ranked list. If the program fills up before they reach your child's name, they will be placed on a waiting list. 10% of the program can be "over income". These slots fill quickly.
Think of the application as getting your child on the roster to be considered. Gathering and submitting all of your documents as soon as possible is the best way to make sure your child is ready when the committee meets to make their decisions.
About Our Programs
Learn more about Head Start below.
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