According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, students who participate in school meal programs consume more whole grains, milk, fruits, and vegetables during meal times and have better overall diet quality. 

Caregivers can set their children up for school lunch success by providing their students with money to purchase meals at school, sending them with a nutritious packed lunch, or applying for free and reduced-price meal benefits.  

Salad Bars at All Schools

Starting the first day of school, every school will have a salad bar available with fresh vegetable and fruit choices.

Paying for Meals

School breakfast for students costs $1.75. Lunch is $3.25 for elementary students and $3.50 for middle, secondary, and high school students. Extra food — including milk, water, vegetables, fruits, and entrees — can be purchased, depending on the school's overall supply. 

The best way to purchase meals (and additional food items) is to use MySchoolBucks. Set up your student’s MySchoolBucks account. If you have questions about MySchoolBucks, your school’s front office staff can help. Purchases made with MySchoolBucks keep cafeteria lines moving more quickly. 

MySchoolBucks accounts can be set up to add money to the account as needed automatically. Families with multiple children can use the same MySchoolBucks account. Visit the Food and Nutrition webpage for more information.

Be ready on the first day of school by setting up your child’s MySchoolBucks account, looking over the menus, and helping them learn their PIN. You will receive an email from Food and Nutrition Services that includes your child’s PIN. 

Packing a Lunch

FCPS Food and Nutrition Services is happy to serve all of students, no matter their specific dietary needs. However, some families may choose to pack meals to bring to school. Overall, it is important to make sure all students have access to healthy meals to fuel their day of learning. If your child has a food allergy, intolerance or medical condition that affects their diet, please contact the Office of Food and Nutrition Services so they can work with you to meet your child’s dietary need.  

If you have a young child bringing lunch to school for the first time, consider practicing opening and closing their lunch box. Make sure they can open the containers of the foods you pack by practicing at home first. There will be teachers and monitors available to assist kids during lunchtime, but the more independent your child can be, the more time they will have to enjoy their lunch period.

Food and Nutrition Services provides pre-K and Early Head Start (EHS) students with meals including breakfast, lunch, and snacks daily. Please note that pre-K and EHS students are not permitted to bring in food or beverages from outside per program policy. Nutritious meals and snacks meet dietary guidelines for all students. If your pre-K or EHS child has a food allergy, intolerance or medical condition that affects their diet, please contact the pre-K and EHS program.

Free and Reduced-Price Meals

As of October 31, 2022, approximately 34% of students in FCPS qualify for free and reduced-price meals. Families in FCPS that are earning less than 185% of the poverty level can receive meals for their students at no cost.

Approved applications may also qualify students for additional benefits throughout the school year. Families are encouraged to complete the application before the start of school. Up-to-date information is available on the Free and Reduced-Price Meals webpage. Families should reach out to their schools with questions or for assistance.