News Summary
Starting in the 2025-2026 school year, 81 schools in Greenville County will offer free lunch to all students through the Community Eligibility Provision.
Greenville, South Carolina – Greenville County Schools has announced that starting in the 2025-2026 school year, 81 schools within the district will offer free lunch to all students, thanks to the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This initiative allows qualifying schools to provide free meals without requiring individual applications for eligibility, significantly streamlining the process for both parents and students.
The CEP’s availability for Greenville County Schools comes as a direct result of the increase in students receiving medical benefits through Medicaid, which qualifies the 81 schools for the program. This initiative will not only ensure that students have access to nutritious meals but broadens the scope of meal availability. Under current guidelines, the program is guaranteed for at least four years, meaning these schools will remain eligible through the 2026-2027 school year.
Every school within the district, with the exception of a few unspecified locations, will participate in this program, further emphasizing the district’s commitment to student welfare. Notably, breakfast is already provided for free to all students in the district, aligning with the overarching aim to support nutritional needs essential for academic success and promoting healthy lifestyles among students.
Program Details and Goals
The CEP eligibility is based on the percentage of students from households that receive benefits. The expansion of this program is particularly vital in South Carolina, where a significant percentage of K-12 students live in poverty, highlighting the crucial role of school meal programs in combating hunger. Notably, only one district in the state, Fort Mill (York 4), is currently ineligible for CEP, underscoring the widespread applicability of this initiative.
A new state law was enacted to encourage all eligible districts to participate in the CEP without requiring students to submit applications for meal eligibility. This initiative aims to eliminate common barriers to access and reduce the stigma often associated with free meals, as all students will now be able to partake in these meals regardless of their household income.
Recent Developments and Legislative Changes
In accordance with recent regulatory changes, the eligibility criteria for the CEP were adjusted in 2023, lowering the automatic qualification percentage from 40% to 25%. This modification has made it easier for schools to qualify under the program, promoting greater participation among districts. Additionally, this year marks the inclusion of three additional K-12 districts in South Carolina — Berkeley County, Dorchester 2, and Spartanburg 5 — who will also join in providing free meals as part of this program.
Sponsored by Sen. Tom Davis, the law underpinning this program does not allocate additional funding to the districts, thereby placing the responsibility of program execution on existing budgetary frameworks. Furthermore, it requires school boards that choose to opt out of the CEP to provide public explanations for their decisions, ensuring transparency in the process.
Impact on Student Nutrition and Academic Performance
The elimination of meal applications serves a double purpose. Not only does it make access easier, but it also reduces the food insecurity that many students face — a problem exacerbated when families do not complete forms required for free or reduced-price meals. Advocates for universal meal access stress the critical importance of these initiatives in addressing hunger and enhancing academic performance, pointing to research that connects nutritional well-being with positive educational outcomes.
It is also important to note that any future changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) could potentially impact the number of students who automatically qualify for these free meal programs. As such, the educational and nutritional landscape for students in Greenville County Schools and across South Carolina remains susceptible to legislative adjustments at both the state and federal levels.
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Additional Resources
- Fox Carolina: Greenville County Schools Offer Free Lunch
- Wikipedia: Community Eligibility Provision
- Greenville Online: What Schools Won’t Offer Free Lunch
- Google Search: Greenville County Schools free lunch
- WSPA: Greenville Co Schools Offering Free Meals
- Google Scholar: School meal programs impact on academic performance
- Kidding Around Greenville: Free Summer Lunch
- Encyclopedia Britannica: School Nourishment Programs
- Greenville Journal: Greenville County Schools Provides Free Meals
- Google News: Free Lunch Programs in South Carolina
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.
