School Lunch Cost?

Updated on July 23, 2013
C.R. asks from Olathe, KS
23 answers

How much are school lunches where you live for elementary school & middle school?

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So What Happened?

Thanks for your answers so far. I was just trying to get an average idea of what the norm is for school lunches to cost.

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M.B.

answers from Austin on

Breakfast- Elementary: $1.35
Secondary: $1.60

Lunch- Elementary: $2.20
Secondary: $2.50

(Secondary is Middle and High School ... Adults pay a higher cost for all meals.)

There is also a reduced and free lunch program, based on income. (Reduced pays very little..... 30c for breakfast, 40c for lunch.)

1 mom found this helpful
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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

$2.35 Elementary
$2.50 middle school
Both for public school in my city

At elementary, it is $5.00 for adult/teacher lunch from the cafeteria.

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A.C.

answers from Washington DC on

Here in my part of Maryland it's $2.25 for elementary and $2.50 for middle and high school. Unless you go with the a la carte items then it can add up quickly.

1 mom found this helpful

O.H.

answers from Phoenix on

Elementary is $2.50 and middle school (jr high) is $3.00-$3.50 or more if you let them buy extra stuff.

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M.L.

answers from Cleveland on

elem is less than $2 salad bar is offered on certain days I guess in place of a main lunch should you choose.

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E.A.

answers from Erie on

The poverty rate is so high in our school district, all the meals are free, even for those few children who wouldn't normally be eligible. Individual items added to the basic lunch or breakfast run anywhere from 25 cents to 2 dollars.

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J.C.

answers from Anchorage on

I don't know about middle school, but our elementary is 4.30 unless you qualify for free or reduced price lunch.

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T.F.

answers from Dallas on

I don't know about middle school but I substitute teach for elementary and the lunch is less than $3. They serve free breakfast as well.

There is a program set up so that children don't overbuy in the lunch line which is where a lot of the money in the account goes. I see some children get 2 entrees and nothing else so they are charged ala carte which is more expensive.

Parents can control what the children purchase by setting the limits in the computer system and it flags them when they try to purchase something they are not supposed to purchase.

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T.S.

answers from San Francisco on

$3.50 to $5.00 per day, but ours is for profit, we live in a wealthy district so the school actually makes money from the lunch program, very rare I'm sure.

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K.B.

answers from Detroit on

Ours is $4.00, but includes the main entree plus 2 servings from their salad/fresh fruit and veggie bar, and milk. It's also a private school, if that makes any difference.

1 mom found this helpful

S.L.

answers from New York on

$3.50, i think
Are you looking to compare from all over the country?

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L.M.

answers from Chicago on

$2.50 for elementary - don't know for junior high.

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H.W.

answers from Portland on

Our school district's prices are $2.60 for hot lunch for PreK-5 and $2.85 for middle school.

We'll be brown-bagging most days.:) School lunches will be a once-a-week treat at most.

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O.O.

answers from Kansas City on

Breakfast 1.50
Elem lunch 2.00
Middle & High School 2.25

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C..

answers from Columbia on

$2.60 for Columbia Missouri Middle School (6-8).
That is for the "standard" hot lunch. however, they have a whole menu that you can select from and then you would spend whatever you spend.....

I couldn't figure out how to copy the whole pdf on my ipad.... but here it is if you want to take a look-
http://www.columbia.k12.mo.us/food/middle.pdf

Essentially:
sandwich is $1.75
Fries/chips $1.00
gatorade $1.25
Rice Krispie treat $0.75

So if you just have an account, your kid could rack up $4.00 each day with no problem.

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M.B.

answers from Tampa on

In Clearwater it's 2.50$ for lunch, and you can buy extras. Not sure about middle/high school.

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M.G.

answers from Seattle on

$2.50 elementary school
$2.75 middle school

1 mom found this helpful

M.J.

answers from Milwaukee on

1.85 lunch

free for any kid during the summer - lunch and breakfast

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S.L.

answers from Appleton on

$1.60 a day for elementary and middle school.

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J.K.

answers from Wausau on

Our district still has last year's information on the website. I don't know if the prices are changing for the 2013-14 school year, but last year's regular pricing for lunch was $1.80 E, $1.95 M, $2.05 HS. The reduced cost was $0.40.

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S.D.

answers from Burlington on

Our middle school charges $3.00.

M.D.

answers from Washington DC on

I believe lunch is $2.40 here. The kids can also buy ice cream and other options for a nominal fee. Mine rarely do it.

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B.D.

answers from Pittsburgh on

elementary lunch $2.40

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