News Summary
Starting in 2025-2026, Greenville County Schools will provide free lunch and breakfast at 81 schools to enhance student wellness and address food insecurity.
Greenville – Greenville County Schools announced that starting in the 2025-2026 school year, free lunch will be available to students at 81 schools throughout the district. This initiative is made possible through the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which allows schools to offer free meals to all students without requiring individual applications for eligibility.
This program will be implemented in nearly all schools within the district, with the exception of a few unspecified schools. Alongside the free lunch initiative, breakfast will also be provided free of charge at every school in the district. The inclusion in the program is determined by the percentage of students from households receiving benefits, thus ensuring that the neediest students are served.
In South Carolina, the CEP has been expanded to include students who are enrolled in Medicaid, which has permitted 81 schools within the Greenville County School District to qualify for the program this upcoming school year. Additionally, these schools may remain part of the program through the 2026-2027 school year due to a four-year eligibility guarantee.
Support for Student Wellness
The initiative aims to support the district’s vision of providing high-quality, nutritious meals that promote academic success and encourage healthy lifestyles among students. Research has shown that proper nutrition plays a crucial role in a child’s ability to learn and thrive in the classroom, and this program seeks to address food insecurity that may exist within the community.
Summer Meal Program
As a continuation of support for student nutrition, Greenville County Schools will also offer free meals during the summer months as part of the Seamless Summer Food Service Program, extending until July 31. This program caters to children and teenagers aged 18 and younger at various schools across Greenville County, ensuring that families have access to meals even when school is out for the season.
Beginning May 28, 2025, Roper Mountain Science Center will serve lunch six days a week, from Monday to Saturday. All summer meals must be consumed on-site, with designated curbside pickup locations available for those who cannot dine in. These pickup sites include Slater Marietta Elementary, Rudolph Gordon School, and Ellen Woodside Elementary.
Specific Summer Schedules
During the summer, high schools (excluding Hillcrest High School) will offer breakfast and lunch Monday through Thursday starting from May 27 until July 31, although operations will pause during the week of July 4. Select middle and elementary schools will also provide breakfast and lunch Monday through Thursday, with services starting on June 2 and continuing until June 26. Participating middle schools include Beck, Berea, Bryson, Greer, Lakeview, Tanglewood, and Woodmont.
Sterling School will additionally serve breakfast and lunch at Officer Jacobs Camp from July 7 to 11, ensuring options for summer meals for a wider range of students. For families who require bulk meals, these will also be available for curbside pickup for qualifying children, although a parent or guardian must present a student ID, report card, or birth certificate to collect these meals.
Conclusion
This initiative by Greenville County Schools is a significant step in combating food insecurity and promoting a healthy lifestyle among students, reinforcing the commitment to ensure that all children have access to nutritious meals throughout the academic year and during the summer months. For more information about the meal program and details regarding eligibility and participation, families are encouraged to check specific resources provided by the school district.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
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Additional Resources
- Fox Carolina: Greenville County Schools Offer Free Lunch to Students at 81 Schools
- Wikipedia: Community Eligibility Provision
- Greenville Online: What Schools Won’t Be Offering Free Lunch in Greenville County
- Google Search: Greenville County Schools Meal Program
- Greenville Journal: Greenville County Schools Provides 2025 Free Summer Meals
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Food Insecurity
- SC Daily Gazette: More SC Schools Offering Free Meals to All
- Google News: Free School Lunch Program
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.
