Alachua County Public Schools (ACPS) announced Monday that free meals will be offered to students at 32 local schools, including several charter schools, designated as federal Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) sites for the 2025-26 school year.
Under the CEP designation, students will be eligible to receive free breakfast and lunch, regardless of family income and without having to submit an application.
The CEP schools for the 2025-26 school year are listed below.
Charter:
- Boulware
- Caring and Sharing
- Einstein School
- North Central FL. Public
- One Room School House
- Resilience
- SIATech
Elementary:
- Alachua Elementary
- Archer Elementary
- Foster Elementary
- Glen Springs Elementary
- Idylwild Elementary
- Irby Elementary
- Lake Forest Elementary
- Littlewood Elementary
- Metcalfe Elementary
- Newberry Elementary
- Norton Elementary
- Parker Elementary
- Rawlings Elementary
- Shell Elementary
- Terwilliger Elementary
- Williams Elementary
Middle:
- Bishop Middle
- Hawthorne Middle/High
- Lincoln Middle
- Mebane Middle
- Westwood Middle
High school:
- Eastside High
- Hawthorne Middle/High
Other:
- A.Q. Jones
- Duval Early Learning Academy
- Sidney Lanier
Non-CEP schools
Families of students who attend the 19 schools not designated as CEP sites for the 2025-26 school year must meet income guidelines and fill out a family application for their child to receive free or reduced-price meals, the release said.
Non-CEP schools include:
- Buchholz High
- Chiles Elementary
- Expressions Learning Arts Academy (charter)
- Fort Clarke Middle
- Gainesville High
- Healthy Learning Academy (charter)
- Hidden Oak Elementary
- High Springs Community
- Kanapaha Middle
- Meadowbrook Elementary
- Micanopy Academy (charter)
- Newberry High
- Oak View Middle
- PAM@Loften High
- PK Yonge Developmental School
- Santa Fe High
- Santa Fe College Academy of Science & Technology
- Talbot Elementary
- Wiles Elementary
Student meal prices for this upcoming school year:
- Reduced price: $0.30 (breakfast), $0.40 (lunch)
- Paid: $1.50 (breakfast), $2.50 (elementary lunch), $2.75 (secondary lunch).
Additional information and the online family application are available on the district’s Food and Nutrition Services website at www.yourchoicefresh.com.
Families who need assistance or want more information can call 352-955-7539, ext. 1569.
Nick Anschultz is a Report for America corps member and writes about education for Mainstreet Daily News.