Stanly County Schools Announces Free Breakfast and Lunch for All Students
This school year, every Stanly County Schools student will be able to enjoy breakfast and lunch at no cost through the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP).
Beginning on the first day of school, all enrolled students may receive one healthy breakfast and one healthy lunch each school day—no meal application or income qualification is required.
At Stanly County Schools, we believe that nutritious meals help students learn, grow, and succeed. By ensuring every student has access to healthy meals, we are helping remove barriers so students can focus on what matters most—learning.
What is the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP)?
The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) is a federally funded program that allows eligible school districts to provide free breakfast and lunch to every enrolled student, regardless of household income.
Because Stanly County Schools qualifies for CEP, families will not need to complete free or reduced-price meal applications for students to receive breakfast and lunch this school year.
Simply put...
Every student eats. Every day. At no cost to families.
What This Means for Families
This year:
✔ Every enrolled student receives breakfast and lunch at no cost.
✔ No meal application is required.
✔ Families do not have to worry about meal charges for standard breakfast and lunch.
✔ Students can enjoy nutritious meals every school day.
Why Participation Matters
While meals are provided at no cost to families, student participation is important to the continued success of the CEP program.
The more students who choose to eat school breakfast and lunch, the more effectively the program can support our schools and continue providing nutritious meals to every student.
When students participate, they help strengthen a program that benefits the entire Stanly County Schools community.
Healthy Meals Fuel Student Success
School meals do more than satisfy hunger.
Research consistently shows that students who eat nutritious meals are better prepared to learn throughout the school day.
Healthy school meals can help support:
- Focus and concentration
- Academic achievement
- Energy throughout the day
- Healthy growth and development
- Positive classroom engagement
Every breakfast and lunch served is another opportunity to help students succeed both inside and outside the classroom.
Our School Nutrition Team
Behind every meal is a dedicated team of School Nutrition professionals who work each day to prepare nutritious, balanced, and appealing meals for our students.
From fresh fruits and vegetables to student-favorite entrees, our School Nutrition staff takes pride in serving meals that fuel learning while creating a welcoming cafeteria experience for every child.
Nourishing Minds. One Meal at a Time.
Throughout the school year, Stanly County Schools will be highlighting our School Nutrition Program through our "Nourishing Minds. One Meal at a Time." campaign.
Families can look forward to:
- Meeting our School Nutrition staff
- Taking a behind-the-scenes look at meal preparation
- Learning more about nutritious menu options
- Seeing student favorites
- Discovering how healthy meals support learning every day
We invite every student to join us for breakfast and lunch as we work together to build healthy habits, support academic success, and nourish minds—one meal at a time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to complete a meal application?
No. All enrolled Stanly County Schools students receive breakfast and lunch at no cost through CEP.
Does every student qualify?
Yes. Every enrolled student is eligible.
When does this begin?
Free breakfast and lunch are available beginning on the first day of the 2026–2027 school year.
Should my child still eat school meals?
Absolutely! Student participation helps support the success of the CEP program while providing students with nutritious meals each day.