Children at daycare

Best Headstart Programs in Gulfport, MS

Compare 3 headstart programs in Gulfport. Average rating: 4.35/5 stars. See top 10 ranked daycares, compare by type, and find the right childcare for your family.

Gulfport, Mississippi at a glance

Programs
3
Avg rating
4.35/5
Parent reviews
204
Top rated (4.5+)
12

Gulfport has 3 licensed headstart programs with 204 parent reviews averaging 4.35/5.12 are top-rated with 4.5+ stars — 52% of rated programs, well above average.The highest-rated options cluster around 39501 (avg 4.64 stars), while 39503 has the largest selection (20 programs).Start with our top-10 ranked list below or filter by philosophy.

Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in Gulfport

Ranked using a weighted score that combines Google rating with the number of parent reviews — daycares with more reviews rank higher than those with a high rating but few reviews. Last updated: March 2026.

  1. 1
    Little Feet Big Steps Learning Center
    4.75 score
    5(15)

    2006 30th St, Gulfport, MS · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 28 children

    Little Feet Big Steps Learning Center in Gulfport receives perfect 5/5 ratings from parents who praise the caring, experienced staff and nurturing environment. Parents consistently highlight excellent communication through daily photos and updates, clean and organized facilities, and strong child development outcomes. Multiple reviewers express peace of mind and high confidence in the center's safety measures and educational approach.

    Caring and patient staffclean
  2. 2
    St. Mark'S Episcopal Church Prescool
    4.58 score
    4.9(9)

    11322 E Taylor Rd, Gulfport, MS · Church Daycare · Capacity: 48 children

    St. Mark's Episcopal Church Preschool receives uniformly positive feedback from visitors who praise the welcoming community and faith-based environment. Reviews highlight the kind, caring, and friendly people associated with the facility. Parents appreciate both the church community and special events like the rummage sale.

    kind and caring staffwelcoming communityfaith-based environmentwarm and friendly atmosphere
  3. 3
    Edna'S Child Development Center
    4.58 score
    4.9(9)

    2207 33rd Ave, Gulfport, MS · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 27 children

    Edna's Child Development Center receives consistently high praise from parents who describe it as a warm, family-like environment with caring staff. Parents appreciate the individualized attention, inclusive services for children with special needs, quality meals, and educational curriculum. Children reportedly transition well and show enthusiasm about attending.

    Caring and compassionate stafffamily-like atmosphereaccommodates special needsflexible scheduling
  4. 4
    Divine Preschool Academy
    4.55 score
    5(6)

    1260 28th St, Gulfport, MS · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 30 children

    Divine Preschool Academy in Gulfport receives perfect 5-star ratings from parents who praise the caring staff, hands-on teaching approach, and strong kindergarten preparation. Parents highlight the welcoming family-oriented environment, cleanliness, and individual attention provided to children. The facility is described as well-run, affordable, and led by responsive ownership.

    Caring and dedicated staffhands-on teaching methodsone-on-one instruction availablekindergarten preparation
  5. 5
    Little Angels Learning Land
    4.55 score
    5(6)

    2105 22nd St, Gulfport, MS · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 64 children

    Little Angels Learning Land receives perfect 5-star ratings from parents who praise the caring staff and educational quality. Director Mrs. Sabrina Keys is highlighted as exceptional, with parents crediting staff members like Mrs. Jenny and Ms. Tish for going above and beyond in child development and emotional care. Multiple families have had children attend for several years and continue to recommend the facility.

    caring and attentive director (Mrs. Sabrina Keys)experienced long-term staffdevelopmental milestones achieved (potty trainingreading
  6. 6
    Trinity Preschool Weekday Ministries
    4.51 score
    4.8(9)

    5007 Lawson Ave, Gulfport, MS · Church Daycare · Capacity: 87 children

    Reviews consistently praise Trinity Preschool Weekday Ministries as a welcoming and spiritually-focused facility. Parents and visitors highlight the friendly congregation, supportive atmosphere, and quality of pastoral leadership. The facility is noted for its community involvement and inclusive approach to worship.

    Welcoming and non-judgmental environmentcaring and kind staffstrong spiritual communityquality sermons and pastoral leadership
  7. 7
    Bel Aire Baptist Preschool
    4.28 score
    4.4(12)

    15080 Dedeaux Rd, Gulfport, MS · Church Daycare · Capacity: 50 children

    Reviews are predominantly positive with a 5/5 rating average. However, the reviews appear to be primarily about the church facility itself rather than the preschool/daycare program specifically. Parents praise the welcoming Christian community and spiritual environment.

    welcoming communityChristian valuescaring peoplegood pastor
  8. 8
    Kid Academy
    4.24 score
    4.3(20)

    918 E Pass Rd, Gulfport, MS · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 174 children

    Kid Academy receives consistently positive feedback from parents who praise the attentive, communicative staff and strong early childhood education curriculum. Parents report their children thrive in the clean, well-maintained facility with structured learning activities and strong leadership from owner Matt Dickens and director Holly Ford. The center is noted for transparency in handling incidents and offering competitive pricing.

    Attentive and communicative staffstrong curriculum and educational outcomeschild development focusemotional support for anxious children
  9. 9
    Twin Oaks Child Development Center
    4.23 score
    4.4(7)

    1077 Pine St, Gulfport, MS · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 91 children

    Twin Oaks Child Development Center receives overwhelmingly positive feedback from most parents, with praise for caring staff, developmental support, and educational programming. However, one parent reported concerns about excessive screen time, limited curriculum engagement, and high student-to-teacher ratios that resulted in their child being unable to advance classes.

    Attentive and patient staffstrong developmental support (speech therapysign language instructi
  10. 10
    Gulfport Academy
    4.22 score
    4.3(14)

    15150 Evans St, Gulfport, MS · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 88 children

    Gulfport Academy receives consistently high praise from parents, with all reviews rating the facility 5/5 stars. Parents highlight exceptional staff care, clean facilities with security cameras, engaging curriculum, and strong management that creates a welcoming environment where children are happy and eager to attend.

    Caring and friendly staffclean facilitysecurity cameras throughoutengaging curriculum

Rating Distribution

Based on 23 daycares with Google ratings in Gulfport

4.5 - 5.0
12
4.0 - 4.4
4
3.0 - 3.9
6
Below 3
1

What Parents Value Most

Top qualities mentioned across 204 reviews, analyzed by AI

1Clean facility
7
2Kindergarten preparation
3
3Welcoming atmosphere
3

Daycare Types Compared

Average ratings by facility type in Gulfport, based on parent reviews

Child Daycare & Preschools

4.46avg rating
19 daycares · 15 rated

Before or After School Daycare

No ratings yet
8 daycares

Church Daycare

4.3avg rating
8 daycares · 5 rated

Headstart Programs

3.9avg rating
3 daycares · 3 rated

Best Rated Neighborhoods

Gulfport zip codes ranked by average daycare rating

Zip CodeDaycaresAvg. RatingTop Rated
3950112
4.64
8
395076
4.28
2
3950320
3.96
2

Facility Sizes

Capacity distribution of daycares in Gulfport (15–393 children)

Small

up to 30 children

5

Medium

31–75 children

15

Large

76–150 children

14

Very Large

150+ children

4

Top Rated

Highest rated daycares in Gulfport based on parent reviews

Isiah Fredericks Head Start Center

5(2)

3410 Jackson St, Gulfport, MS

One parent notes that their five-year-old daughter enjoys her teachers and school environment, while another describes the registration process as welcoming and friendly.

Enjoys teacherswelcoming stafffriendly registration process

Harry C. Tartt Head Start Center

3.7(3)

1906 17th Ave, Gulfport, MS

Parents express strong appreciation for the teachers and the school environment, with families indicating they plan to return. However, significant concerns exist regarding the parking lot, where chaotic traffic conditions and aggressive driving by other parents create safety hazards for children.

Supportive teacherspositive school environmentwelcoming atmosphere

Linda C. Lyons Head Start Center

3(2)

13523 Dedeaux Rd, Gulfport, MS

One parent highlights the engaging and individualized attention from teachers, noting their child enjoys the social and musical activities. Another parent reports a frustrating administrative experience, citing a lost application and unresponsive staff.

Individualized teacher attentionengaging activitiessinging and fun

Map

Daycare types in Gulfport

Child Daycare & Preschools 19Headstart Programs 3Church Daycare 8Before or After School Daycare 8

Browse by type in Gulfport

🎨 Preschools 4✝️ Christian Daycare 3

Headstart Programs in Gulfport, Mississippi

There are 3 headstart programs in Gulfport, Mississippi, making up 8% of the 38 total childcare facilities in the city. Below you'll find a complete directory to help you compare and choose the right daycare for your child.

Based on Google reviews, daycares in Gulfport have an average rating of 4.35 out of 5 across 23 rated facilities, with 52% scoring 4.5 stars or higher. Child Daycare & Preschools facilities lead with an average of 4.46 stars. Our analysis covers 204 parent reviews. Parents in Gulfport most frequently praise daycares for clean facility, kindergarten preparation, and welcoming atmosphere.

When choosing a daycare in Gulfport, consider visiting facilities in person, checking their licensing status, and asking about staff-to-child ratios, daily routines, and safety policies.

All Headstart Programs in Gulfport

Showing 3 results

Isiah Fredericks Head Start Center
Headstart Programs
5

One parent notes that their five-year-old daughter enjoys her teachers and school environment, while another describes the registration process as welcoming and friendly.

Enjoys teacherswelcoming stafffriendly registration process
Address
3410 Jackson St, Gulfport, MS
Phone
(228) 822-0755
Harry C. Tartt Head Start Center
Headstart Programs
3.7

Parents express strong appreciation for the teachers and the school environment, with families indicating they plan to return. However, significant concerns exist regarding the parking lot, where chaotic traffic conditions and aggressive driving by other parents create safety hazards for children.

Supportive teacherspositive school environmentwelcoming atmosphere
Address
1906 17th Ave, Gulfport, MS
Phone
(228) 864-2670
Linda C. Lyons Head Start Center
Headstart Programs
3

One parent highlights the engaging and individualized attention from teachers, noting their child enjoys the social and musical activities. Another parent reports a frustrating administrative experience, citing a lost application and unresponsive staff.

Individualized teacher attentionengaging activitiessinging and fun
Address
13523 Dedeaux Rd, Gulfport, MS
Phone
(228) 539-2328

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Frequently asked questions

There are 3 headstart programs daycares in Gulfport, Mississippi, out of 38 total childcare facilities in the city. Browse our directory to compare options and find the right fit for your child.
Based on parent reviews, daycares in Gulfport have an average Google rating of 4.35 out of 5 across 23 rated facilities. About 52% of rated daycares score 4.5 stars or higher.
When choosing a daycare in Gulfport, consider visiting facilities in person and checking:
  • Licensing status with Mississippi's regulatory agency
  • Staff-to-child ratios (requirements vary by age group in Mississippi)
  • Safety measures and cleanliness
  • Daily routines and educational curriculum
  • Parent reviews and ratings
  • Location and hours that fit your schedule
Gulfport offers several types of childcare facilities:
  • Child Daycare & Preschools — 19 facilities
  • Headstart Programs — 3 facilities
  • Church Daycare — 8 facilities
  • Before or After School Daycare — 8 facilities
Each type serves different needs — center-based facilities typically offer structured programs, while head start programs are federally funded for low-income families.
Daycare costs in Mississippi typically range from $200 to $400 per week for full-time care, depending on the child's age, facility type, and location within the state. Infant care tends to be more expensive due to lower staff-to-child ratio requirements. Contact individual facilities in Gulfport for current pricing.
Yes, daycare centers in Gulfport must be licensed by Mississippi's childcare licensing agency. Licensed facilities are required to meet standards for safety, health, staff qualifications, and staff-to-child ratios. You can verify a facility's license status through your state's licensing database.