As COVID-related free school meal program ends, how much will Iowa families pay for breakfast, lunch?

Samantha Hernandez, Des Moines Register
·3 min read
School Lunch at Hillis Elementary in Des Moines, Tuesday, May 10, 2022.
School Lunch at Hillis Elementary in Des Moines, Tuesday, May 10, 2022.

Many Des Moines area metro families will see higher meal prices this school year as a COVID-19-era universal free meals program ends and schools grapple with the rising cost of food and ongoing supply chain issues.

For the last two years, most students have eaten for free after the U.S. Department of Agriculture temporarily relaxed rules that tied who received free meals to family income and neighborhood poverty levels.

For families not currently eligible for free and reduced priced meal plans, the costs vary widely across districts. Schools in most metro area districts are increasing the prices for lunch this year.

Here's a look at how much families will pay for the 2022-23 school year.

More:

Ankeny Community School District

Ankeny Community School District families will see meals go up between 2 cents and 10 cents.

  • Elementary breakfast: $1.95

  • Middle school breakfast: $2.05

  • High school breakfast: $2.10

  • Elementary lunch: $2.90

  • Middle school lunch: $3

  • High school lunch: $3.10

Des Moines Public Schools

All Des Moines Public Schools students will get breakfast and lunch for free next school year.

The school district is able to cover the cost of the meals through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Community Eligibility Provision program. One of the qualifications for the that federal program is having a high number of lower-income families enrolled in the district. Almost 78% of Des Moines schools students were receiving free or reduced meals during the 2021-22 school year so the district is able to offer all students those free meals.

.

Related: DMPS to offer free meals in every building next year despite COVID-era program ending

Indianola Community School District

Indianola Community School District families will see a 5 cent increase for most meals.

  • Elementary breakfast: $2

  • Secondary school breakfast: $2.05

  • Elementary lunch: $3.10

  • Secondary lunch: $3.20

Johnston Community School District

Johnston Community School District families will see a 5 to 10 cent increase for meals during the 2022-23 school year.

  • Elementary breakfast: $1.85

  • Secondary school breakfast: $2

  • Elementary lunch: $2.90

  • Secondary lunch: $3

Urbandale Community School District

Urbandale Community School District will not see an increase for breakfast this coming year. The cost of lunch for all grades will go up by 20 cents.

  • Elementary breakfast: $2

  • Middle school breakfast: $2.50

  • High school breakfast: $2.75

  • Elementary lunch: $2.70

  • Middle school lunch: $2.95

  • High school lunch: $3.10

Southeast Polk Community School District

Southeast Polk Community School District student meal prices increased by 10 cents for the coming school year.

  • Elementary breakfast: $1.80

  • Middle school breakfast: $1.90

  • High school breakfast: $1.95

  • Elementary lunch: $2.90

  • Middle school lunch: $2.95

  • High school lunch: $3.05

  • Spring Creek Sixth Grade Center breakfast: $1.90

  • Spring Creek Sixth Grade Center lunch: $2.95

Waukee Community School District

Waukee Community School District families will see a 5 cent increase in meal prices for the next school year.

  • Elementary breakfast: $1.95

  • Middle school breakfast: $2.05

  • High school breakfast: $2.05

  • Elementary lunch: $2.90

  • Middle school lunch: $3

  • High school lunch: $3.10

Related: COVID-era free meals program for Iowa students ends soon, and it will cost families

West Des Moines Community School District

West Des Moines Community School District families will see a 25 cent increase to lunch prices.

  • Elementary breakfast: $2.25

  • Secondary breakfast: $2.35

  • Elementary lunch: $3.20

  • Secondary lunch: $3.30

Additionally, students attending nine West Des Moines schools will be able to eat for free as part of the Community Eligibility Provision program.

Those schools are: Clive Learning Academy, Crestview School of Inquiry, Crossroads Park Elementary, Hillside Elementary, Western Hills Elementary, Indian Hills Junior High, Stilwell Junior High, Valley Southwoods Freshman High School, and Walnut Creek Campus.

Samantha Hernandez covers education for the Register. Reach her at (515) 851-0982 or svhernandez@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @svhernandez or Facebook at facebook.com/svhernandezreporter.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Some Des Moines metro area schools are increasing school lunch prices