News Summary
Greenville County Schools announces free lunches for students at 81 schools through the Community Eligibility Provision funding, promoting health and academic success.
Greenville, South Carolina – Greenville County Schools has announced that starting in the 2025-2026 school year, free lunches will be provided to students at 81 schools across the district. This initiative is made possible through funding from the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which allows schools to serve free meals to all students without needing individual applications for eligibility.
This program follows an expansion of the CEP within South Carolina, now including students enrolled in Medicaid benefits. The guaranteed participation of these 81 schools in the CEP will last for a minimum of four years, extending eligibility through the 2026-27 school year. The district aims to promote academic success and healthy lifestyles by offering high-quality, nutritious meals to its students. Aside from lunch, all schools in the district will also provide free breakfast.
Details of the Meal Program
This initiative will see the district’s Food and Nutrition Services play an active role in supporting student well-being. During the summer months, the district will continue to provide free meals through the Seamless Summer Food Service Program until July 31. This summer program will allow children and teens aged 18 and younger to receive meals at multiple locations throughout Greenville County.
Starting May 28, Roper Mountain Science Center will offer lunch from Monday to Saturday. The meals provided must be consumed on-site, although specific curbside pickup locations will also be available. Throughout the summer, all high schools, with the exception of Hillcrest High School, will serve breakfast and lunch Monday through Thursday from May 27 until July 31, with all high school locations remaining closed during the week of July 4.
Select middle and elementary schools will provide breakfast and lunch from June 2 to June 26, with participating middle schools including Beck, Berea, Bryson, Greer, Lakeview, Tanglewood, and Woodmont. The Sterling School is also set to serve breakfast and lunch at Officer Jacobs Camp from July 7 to July 11.
Meal Pickup Procedures
For families wishing to pick up meals, bulk meal options containing three to four days’ worth of food will be available at designated curbside locations for qualifying children. Parents or guardians must present identification, such as a student ID, report card, or birth certificate, when collecting meals on behalf of their children. Curbside pickup locations will include Slater Marietta Elementary, Rudolph Gordon School, and Ellen Woodside Elementary.
Community Support and Engagement
The initiative underscores the district’s commitment to ensuring that all students have access to nutritious meals, thereby enabling them to achieve their full academic potential. By participating in this program, Greenville County Schools continues to uphold its vision of promoting the health and well-being of its students through quality meal offerings.
For additional information regarding the meal program, parents and guardians are encouraged to visit the Greenville County Schools website.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Greenville County Schools to Provide Free Lunch for Students
Greenville Schools Provide Free Lunch to Students
Greenville County Tackles Rising Food Insecurity Among Residents
Greenville County Schools Implement Free Summer Meal Program
New Dining Destination STIR to Open in Downtown Greenville
Furman University to Host L.D. Johnson Lecture Featuring Yale Professor
Proposed Funding Cuts Threaten School Meal Programs in South Carolina
Greenville County Schools Proposes $947.8 Million Budget for 2025-26
Lifelong Learning Program for Seniors at Furman University
USDA Funding Cuts Impact School Nutrition in South Carolina
Additional Resources
- Fox Carolina: Greenville County Schools Offer Free Lunch
- Wikipedia: School Lunch
- Greenville Online: What Schools Won’t Be Offering Free Lunch
- Google Search: Free Lunch Programs in South Carolina
- WSPA: Greenville Co Schools Offering Free Breakfast & Lunch
- Google Scholar: Free School Lunch Programs
- Kidding Around Greenville: Free Summer Lunch
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Nutrition
- SC Daily Gazette: More SC Schools Offering Free Meals
- Google News: Greenville County Schools Free Lunch
Author: STAFF HERE GREENVILLE
The HERE Greenville Staff Writers are a collaborative team of journalists, editors, and local contributors passionate about delivering accurate, timely information to the Greenville community. As part of the HEREcity.com Network, which powers over 100 U.S. city sites including HEREcolumbia.com, our staff draws on collective experience in South Carolina journalism to cover everything from business sales and real estate developments to dining deals and community initiatives. Our Expertise and Background Local Roots in Greenville Our team includes lifelong Greenville residents and SC natives with deep knowledge of the area’s history, economy, and culture. We’ve covered key events like the recent sales in the Heritage Historic District 17 , Greenville’s textile and railroad heritage 2 , and growth in local education sectors (e.g., Greenville Technical College programs) 27 . Collective Experience With over 50 combined years in journalism, our staff has backgrounds in print, digital media, and community reporting. We prioritize fact-based stories, drawing from sources like the Greenville Chamber of Commerce, city government records, and on-the-ground interviews. Commitment to Quality Every article is a group effort, involving research, editing, and verification to ensure reliability. We adhere to journalistic standards, citing credible sources and updating content as new details emerge.
