DCPS is ending universal free lunch for 37 schools. But families can fill out free or reduced-cost meal application

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Beginning next school year, Duval County Public Schools will cut free lunch provided through the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) for 37 schools, which provided universal free meals regardless of school or need. Families at those schools will now need to complete a free or reduced-price meal application or be certified by the state to get assistance.

The district has been able to provide free meals regardless of school since March 2020 due to the pandemic-related funding.

Officials said after review of the district’s budget going into the 2025-26 school year, the district determined universal free meals were no longer sustainable without that funding.

Most schools in the district qualified as CEP schools, meaning that 40% of students enrolled in those schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals through other programs, such a SNAP or TANF or Medicaid.

Before 2020, school lunches were provided at no cost to students in CEP schools, while families in non-CEP schools needed to apply for Free and Reduced Lunch if assistance was needed.

Beginning in March 2020, DCPS began providing lunch meals at no cost to all students, regardless of school, through additional federal funding following COVID. This continued through the 2024-25 school year.

Lunch meals will be provided at no cost to students in CEP schools going into the 2025-26 school year, but the 37 schools identified as non-CEP schools will no longer be eligible for free lunch without applying or being certified.

For families of students enrolled in one of the 37 non-CEP schools, you need to apply for free or reduced-price meals. The application will be available online in the first week of August.

All students will continue to receive free lunch for the first 30 operating days of the school year or until a new meal eligibility status determination is made, whichever comes first.

If your child receives benefits like SNAP, TANF, or Medicaid, they will be automatically approved for free or reduced-price meals by certification.

Free breakfast will be provided at all schools through the federal Universal Free Breakfast Program.

Here is the list of the 37 non-CEP schools:

1. Alden Road Exceptional Student Center
2. Alimacani Elementary
3. Anchor Academy Elementary
4. Atlantic Beach Elementary
5. Atlantic Coast High
6. Baldwin Jr/Sr
7. Bartram Springs Elementary
8. Chets Creek Elementary
9. Darnell Cookman Jr/Sr
10. Douglas Anderson High
11. Fishweir Elementary
12. Fletcher High
13. Fletcher Middle
14. Greenland Pines Elementary
15. Hendricks Avenue Elementary
16. J Allen Axson Elementary
17. Jacksonville Beach Elementary
18. James Weldon Johnson Middle
19. John Stockton Elementary
20. Julia Landon Middle
21. Lavilla Middle
22. Loretto Elementary
23. Louis Sheffield Elementary
24. Mandarin High
25. Mandarin Middle
26. Mandarin Oaks Elementary
27. Mayport Elementary
28. Mayport Middle
29. Neptune Beach Elementary
30. New Berlin Elementary
31. Paxon High
32. Sabal Palm Elementary
33. Samuel W Wolfson High
34. San Pablo Elementary
35. Sandalwood High
36. Seabreeze Elementary
37. Stanton High