Head Start celebrates 60 years of shaping young lives

The St. Louis region is celebrating a milestone that has shaped generations of families. Head Start, the federally funded early childhood education program, is marking its 60th anniversary, and four of the region’s largest providers, alumni and supporters came together this week to honor its legacy and impact.

That impact demonstrates just how imperative quality early childhood education is.

At just 4 years old, Tony Thompson entered St. Louis’ first Head Start class in 1965. Today, he is a respected business leader, serving on the Regional Business Council and chairing its K-12 Education Committee.

Looking back, he credits Head Start with sparking his early love of math, science and building — a foundation that led to an architecture degree from the University of Kansas and a career defined by leadership and advocacy. For him, Head Start was not just the beginning of school — it was the beginning of opportunity.

“Education has always been important to me,” Thompson said. “You have to have a great education if you want to compete in this world.”

On Tuesday, Thompson participated in the celebration of Head Start, which has touched generations of families. Four of the region’s largest providers — YWCA Metro St. Louis, the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, Youth In Need and the Jefferson Franklin Community Action Corp. — came together at the South County Head Start Center to honor the program’s six-decade legacy.

Since its founding, Head Start has served nearly 40 million children nationwide, providing not only education but also health, nutrition and family support services. Locally, the reach is just as significant. In 2024 alone, the four organizations invested more than $74 million into communities across the region — educating nearly 5,000 children, supporting 3,000 working parents and creating 860 jobs.

Dr. Cheryl Watkins, President and CEO of YWCA Metro St. Louis, called the milestone “a celebration of opportunity, resilience and the power of community.” She said that the program supports families even before children are born.

“We go upstream and serve pregnant moms as well,” Watkins said. “We make sure they have safe deliveries and then teach them how to become the first teacher to their child.”

The results, she noted, are striking: Head Start graduates in the St. Louis region are entering kindergarten scoring in the 90th percentile in both math and reading.

U.S. Representative Wesley Bell underscored that impact, recalling his own years as an educator.

“I saw the difference in students who received a strong educational foundation and those who did not,” he said. “Programs like Head Start give that foundation from the very beginning. If you want every child to have a fair shot, start investing in them early.”

Research supports what leaders like Bell and Thompson have witnessed firsthand. The National Head Start Association reports that every dollar invested in the program returns $7 to $9 in long-term social and economic benefits — showing that early investment in children can strengthen entire communities.”

Thompson believes Head Start helped him defy the odds as a young Black child growing up in St. Louis in the 1960s.

“Head Start is so important in helping get kids on the right path,” he said. “It taught me to be fearless and to enjoy learning.”

ABOUT YWCA:

YWCA Metro St. Louis is the region’s leading advocate for the safety, security and stability of women and children, serving more than 10,000 women and families annually. The mission of YWCA is eliminating racism and empowering women. YWCA offers crisis services and rapid re-housing for victims of sexual and domestic violence; services for pregnant women, Head Start and Early Head Start early childhood education; career readiness and economic empowerment services for all clients; and racial justice educational programs.