Programs and Eligibility

Head Start

  • High-quality child care, no cost to families
  • For children 3 or 4 years of age by August 31
  • 10-month program, 6.5 hours a day
  • Multiple locations across Buncombe County
  • Limited before-and-after-school care available
  • Income Guidelines
    • Family of 2: $19,720
    • Family of 3: $24,860
    • Family of 4: $30,000
    • Family of 5: $35,140

Contact Community Action Opportunities
(828) 252-2495
Website

Asheville City Schools

  • High-quality child care for children living in the Asheville City Schools district.
    Check your address to see if in/out of district here
  • For children 3 or 4 years of age by August 31 of the current school year
  • Classrooms blend Head Start, NC Pre-K, and Tuition; enrollment options vary by age and income
  • School day is 8:00-2:30, following the ACS calendar
  • Before-and-after-school care and summer care available; fees and eligibility requirements may apply
  • Child care subsidy accepted
  • 2022-2023 school sites: Asheville High School, Hall Fletcher, Ira B. Jones, Isaac Dickson, and Lucy S. Herring

Contact Asheville City Schools Preschool Program
(828) 545-1646
Website

NC Pre-K

  • High-quality child care, no cost to families
  • For children 4 years of age by August 31 of the current school year
  • 10-month program, 6.5 hours a day
  • Multiple locations across Buncombe County.
  • Some sites have before-and-after-school care available; fees or specific eligibility requirements may apply
  • Income Guidelines
    • Family of 2: $51,360
    • Family of 3: $63,444
    • Family of 4: $75,528
    • Family of 5: $87,612

Contact Buncombe Partnership for Children
(828) 407-2057
Website

Need help paying for private pre-K or before/after pre-k hours?

Child Care Vouchers

  • Pays partial tuition at participating programs (including private pre-k sites) across Buncombe County
  • Family copay is 10% of gross monthly income
  • For children birth to 12 years of age
  • For 3, 4, & 5 star child care programs
  • Applies to full-day, half-day, before & after school care for Head Start and NC Pre-K, and summer care
  • Income Guidelines (ages 0-5)
    • Family of 2: $36,624
    • Family of 3: $46,056
    • Family of 4: $55,500
    • Family of 5: $64,944

Contact Child Care Subsidy Unit at Buncombe County Health and Human Services at (828) 250-5500 to make an appointment

Website (no online application)

Need care for younger children?

Early Head Start

  • High-quality child care OR home visiting, no cost to families
  • For children up to 3 years of age
  • Center-based: 8:30 am to 2:30 pm, Monday-Friday
  • Home-based: weekly visits by early childhood educator
  • Income Guidelines
    • Family of 2: $19,720
    • Family of 3: $24,860
    • Family of 4: $30,000
    • Family of 5: $35,140

Contact Verner Center for Early Learning
(828) 298-0808
Website

Apply online here

Need help finding the right program for your child?

Mountain Child Care Connections
877.752.5955
Email: childcareinfo@swcdcinc.org
swcdcinc.org/quality-childcare

Mountain Child Care Connections (MCCC) is a regional call center providing families with free, confidential information about quality child care to meet their individual needs. This is a great place to start if you are looking for child care. Information provided includes:

  • Provider contact information
  • Types of care available
  • Program star ratings
  • Cost of care
  • Referrals to other agencies

Calls are answered Monday through Friday, 8AM-12 PM and 1PM-5PM. If you receive a voice mail, leave your message and your call will be returned the next business day.

NC Div. of Child Development & Early Education’s (DCDEE) website has a search feature that allows families to find centers & family child care homes based on star rating, name, location, and age.

About Buncombe Pre-K

Buncombe Pre-K is a community effort to make it easier for families to find and apply to publicly funded pre-kindergarten (pre-k) programs. Local partners work together “behind the scenes” so that families have one website to go to, one number to call, and one application to fill out to connect with all the pre-k programs and related services they might be eligible for.
If you have any questions or are having trouble with the application, please contact Cindy at (828) 419-1030.