School lunch prices increase for '25-26

8:30 a.m. July 15, 2025 | Updated 1:17 p.m. July 15, 2025

School lunch prices increase

DUANE CROSS
MCO Publisher•Editor

For the first time in eight years, Moore County Schools will raise prices for student and staff meals, following the Board of Education's approval on Monday of an increase for the 2025-26 school year.

According to Director of Schools Chad Moorehead, the decision comes after rising food and labor costs have outpaced current meal prices for several years. He noted that the average cost to prepare a school lunch – including food, labor, and supplies – has risen to $3.85 per plate at the high school level.

Currently, high school students are charged $3 per lunch, with an additional $0.51 in state reimbursement per meal. Even with that support, the district loses $0.34 per meal served. Similar deficits exist in breakfast services and elementary school lunches.

Under the new pricing plan:

  • High school lunches will increase from $3 to $3.50
  • Elementary school lunches will rise from $2.75 to $3
  • Student breakfasts will increase from $1.25 to $1.50
  • Teacher breakfasts will go from $2.25 to $3
  • Adult lunches will increase from $4 to $4.50

While the district does receive higher reimbursements for students who qualify for free and reduced-price meals, state guidelines prohibit using those funds to offset losses from paid meals.

The school nutrition program has been using its fund balance to absorb the cost difference. Still, Moorehead said that the model is no longer sustainable without an adjustment in prices.

The board unanimously approved the proposal, allowing the district to notify families of the upcoming changes before the school year begins in August.

Ed Cashion, Kaleigh Hatfield, and Tanya Vann were the board members in attendance. Carrie Barnett and Jammie Cashion were absent.

Why doesn't Moore County have free meals?

Short answer: It would cost a lot of local tax dollars (more than $100,000, as of the last check).

"Our district has not participated due to the significant funds that would be required of our general purpose budget [local tax dollars]," Moorehead said Tuesday. "I have asked for an update as to what that amount would be at this point."

This is a Cliffs Notes version of what we’ve researched on school lunches:

In Tennessee, some counties do not participate in universal free school lunch programs due to various factors, mainly linked to funding and administrative capacity. While the state has adopted specific federal programs, such as the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (S-EBT) for summer meals, it has also chosen to run some programs at the state level, leading to different levels of participation across counties.

Community Eligibility Provision (CEP): This program allows schools with a high percentage of low-income students to offer free meals to all students without collecting applications. Some counties may have schools that don't meet the specific eligibility requirements for CEP, while others may choose not to participate due to concerns about funding or administrative burden.

State Administration of Summer EBT: Tennessee is launching its own state-run summer food benefits program instead of the federal Summer EBT. This choice has resulted in a more limited reach, with some counties choosing not to participate due to administrative costs and capacity issues.

Funding and Costs: Implementing free school lunch programs requires significant funding, and states may be hesitant to take on the full financial burden, especially if they are already facing budget constraints.

Administrative Capacity: Some counties may lack the personnel and resources needed to effectively manage and distribute free meals to all students, especially under a state-administered program.

Voluntary Participation: The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) is a voluntary program, and school districts may choose to participate based on their specific circumstances.

Impact of Federal Policy Changes: Recent adjustments in federal guidelines for school meal programs, such as the change to the identified student percentage for CEP eligibility, can also influence which schools and counties qualify for free meals.

Editor's Note: Updated to include a quote from Chad Moorehead and insight on why Moore County Schools do not have free meals.