HomeEducationFree meals for all students at 23 local schools this year

Free meals for all students at 23 local schools this year

July 14, 2026

Press release from Alachua County Public Schools

ALACHUA COUNTY, Fla. – For the upcoming school year, 23 local schools, including some charter schools, have been designated as federal Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) sites. That designation means that all students at the school are eligible to receive free breakfast and lunch, regardless of family income and without having to apply.

The CEP schools for the 2026-2027 school year are:

A Quinn JonesEastside HighLincoln MiddleOne Room CharterSidney Lanier
Alachua ElementaryHawthorne Middle/HighMebane MiddleRawlings ElementaryTerwilliger Elementary
Archer ElementaryIdylwild ElementaryMetcalfe ElementaryResilience CharterWilliams Elementary
Caring and Sharing CharterIrby ElementaryN. Central FL CharterShell Elementary
Duval Early Learning Lake Forest ElementaryNorton ElementarySIATech Charter

Families of students at 27 local schools that are not designated as CEP sites for the upcoming school year will need to meet income guidelines and fill out a family application for their children to receive free or reduced-price meals.

Those non-CEP schools are Bishop Middle, Boulware Springs (charter), Buchholz High, Parker Elementary, Chiles Elementary, Einstein School (charter), Expressions Learning Arts Academy (charter), Ft. Clarke Middle, Gainesville High, Glen Springs Elementary, Healthy Learning Academy (charter), Littlewood Elementary, Hidden Oak Elementary, High Springs Community, Kanapaha Middle, Newberry Community School (charter),  Meadowbrook Elementary, Micanopy Academy (charter), Newberry High,  Oak View K-8, PAM@Loften High, PK Yonge Developmental School, Santa Fe High, Santa Fe College Academy of Science & Technology (charter), Talbot Elementary, Westwood Middle and Wiles Elementary. 

Student meal prices for the 2026-2027 school year:  

  • Reduced:  $0.30 (breakfast), $0.40 (lunch)     
  • Paid:  $1.50 (breakfast), $2.50 (elementary lunch), $2.75 (secondary lunch).

More information and an online application are available on the district’s Food and Nutrition Services website at www.yourchoicefresh.com. Hard copies of the online meal application are also available at the affected schools.

Families needing more information can call (352) 955-7539, extension 1569. 

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