Child care center · Merced, California

Galen Clark Head Start

Merced · Licensed for 28 children · licensed since 2006

213 East 11th Street, 95340(209) 381-5178
Plan a visitRead the licensing recordPreschools nearby

Preschools aren’t tested, scored or ranked.

Licensed since 2006. No serious violations in 5 state visits.

Common questions

Is it licensed?

Yes: an active child care center licence, no. 243808264, first issued January 25, 2006. Evidence ↓

Has the state found problems?

5 state visits on file, with no Type A finding and no Type B finding across them. Type A means an immediate risk to health or safety. Evidence ↓

How many children are there?

Up to 28 children at once under the licence. That’s the state’s maximum, not current enrollment; ask how many are enrolled and their ages. Evidence ↓

More questions (3)

What does it cost?

We have no source for its prices. Ask for the weekly or monthly rate and what it includes. Evidence ↓

When could my child start free TK instead?

The September after they turn 4: TK is free at public elementary schools for children who turn 4 by September 1. 18 public and charter campuses in Merced have a TK class. Evidence ↓

How do I visit?

Call (209) 381-5178 and ask to visit during the day, while children are there. Evidence ↓

State licensing

What does the state record about Galen Clark Head Start?

Licensed for 28 children since 2006: 5 state visits on file, no Type A finding.

California Community Care Licensing

Child Care Center, licence 243808264

Type A means an immediate risk to health or safety.

  • StatusActive
  • Licensed capacity28 childrenThe most allowed at once, not current openings or group size
  • First licensedJanuary 25, 2006When this licence was issued
  • State visits on file5Latest recorded visit: January 20, 2026
  • Type A findings0Across 5 state visits
  • Type B findings0Across 5 state visits. CCLD reports findings as totals, not tied to a visit
  • Complaint visits0Investigations; the record doesn’t show whether complaints were upheld

Source: California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing · synced August 13, 2026 · Full state record for licence 243808264 ↗

Licensing records describe regulatory oversight, not teaching or daily experience. Check the state’s current inspection records ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Ask: When was your last state licensing visit, and what did it find?

Visit dates and visit types

Dates are listed as supplied by CCLD. Finding totals above are not attached to individual visits.

Inspection visits
4
Other visits
1

TK and kindergarten

When could free TK start instead?

California’s public transitional kindergarten (TK) is free for children who turn 4 by September 1.

California’s TK rule

TK in Merced18 public and charter campuses with a TK class, free for children who turn 4 by September 1 →
Nearby public elementary schoolsPercentile among California elementary schools, spring 2026
2 more nearby

Each percentile compares a school with California schools at its own level. Distance isn’t an attendance boundary; check TK and kindergarten entry with the district.

Next steps

How do I visit Galen Clark Head Start, and what should I ask?

  1. When was your last state licensing visit, and what did it find?
  2. Licensed for 28 children: how many share your child’s room, and with how many adults?
  3. Which ages do you take, and how does a new child settle in?
  4. What are the daily hours and closure dates, and is there care before or after?
  5. What does a year cost in total, and when could our child start?

On a visit, watch how adults talk with children, how play and rest are set up, and how staff handle a hard morning.

Address
213 East 11th Street, Merced 95340
Phone
(209) 381-5178
Licensed as
Child Care Center
Facility number
243808264

Call (209) 381-5178Directions ↗

Source recordsstate licensing

The inspection source covers child care centers, not family child care homes. Check each license’s sync date and the current state reports, then confirm routines and enrollment with the program.

Data source: California Community Care Licensing Division (CCLD) · Licensing record synced August 13, 2026

Inspection reports ↗ · Parent reviews on Winnie ↗ · Pre-K vs TK vs preschool in California: a 2026 parent’s guide · Montessori, Waldorf and Reggio · Preschool cost guide