CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Nine of Albemarle County’s 26 public schools and all 11 of Charlottesville city schools qualified for the USDA’s school meal programs for the upcoming school year, which begins Wednesday.
Every student at six county elementary schools (Agnor, Greer, Mountain View, Red Hill, Scottsville and Woodbrook) and three middle schools (Burley, Journey and Walton) can receive a free breakfast and lunch every school day this year.
Families whose children attend those schools don’t have to apply, as the schools qualified under the program’s Community Eligibility Provision. The meals are available at school cafeterias.
This is the third straight year for Charlottesville city schools to be covered, division-wide, by the USDA CEP program, spokesperson Beth Cheuk told Cville Right Now.
The same county schools received no-cost meals last school year.
For families whose children attend schools that did not qualify under CEP, free and reduced-price meals are still available, but those families need to apply under the National School Lunch Program or the School Breakfast Program.
“Eligibility is based on household income or participation in government assistance programs,” ACPS spokesperson Jennifer Butler told Cville Right Now in an email. “Children in households receiving SNAP or TANF benefits, or children who are in foster care, are automatically eligible for free meals. Students eligible for Medicaid and children in households participating in WIC may also qualify for free or reduced-price meals based on income.”
For example, in a four-person household, annual income of less than $59,478 would qualify for free or reduced-price meals. A three-person household with an income under $49,303 would qualify.
Butler said the USDA reimburses schools based on the number of meals served.
Elementary school lunches for students who pay cost $3.45 per day, while lunches for middle and high school students are $3.65.
Students who receive free or reduced meals can also buy add-on items, for additional charges.
