Free and Reduced School Meals
Free and Reduced Applications
Children need healthy meals to learn. Dare County Schools offers healthy meals every school day. Breakfast costs $1.50; lunch costs $3.00 in elementary and $3.25 in middle and high schools. To avoid meal charges, please complete and submit an application as soon as possible. This year, middle and high schools will introduce a revised meal charge policy concerning student meal debt. A maximum charge limit of $10 will be implemented. Parents will receive notifications to promptly settle any outstanding balances and replenish their student’s account as needed.
Free and reduced meal applications for the 2024-2025 school year are now available. A new application is required for the new school year. Some households will be notified by letter of automatic approval for free school meals based on Food and Nutrition Services (FNS, formerly Food Stamp) or TANF benefits. If notified, no application is required.Your student may qualify for free meals or for reduced price meals.
Apply Online
LunchApplication.com is an easy, secure, and convenient way to apply for free or reduced meals. It provides access 24 hours a day for parents to apply for school meal benefits. This service is made available free of charge by the district. To apply, simply go to LunchApplication.com and click “Apply Now.” Meal applications assist with so much more than meals. Additional benefits may include: AP Test reduced fee, Internet Access, and School Funding.
Download a Paper Application
If you would like to apply using a paper application, click the links below or contact contact School Nutrition Bookkeeper, Rorie Rossie at (252) 480-8888 extension: 1918. Once completed, return your application directly to:
Dare County Schools
Attention: School Nutrition
P.O. Box 1508
3020 S. Wrightsville Avenue
Nags Head, NC 27959
Frequently Asked Questions about Free and Reduced Price School Meals
- Who can get free or reduced price meals?
- How do I know if my children quality as homeless, migrant, or runaway?
- Do I need to fill out an application for each child?
- Should I fill out an application if I received a letter this school year saying my children are already approved for free meals?
- Can I apply online?
- My child's application was approved last year. Do I need to fill out a new one?
- I get WIC. Can my children get free meals?
- Will the information I give be checked?
- If I don't qualify now, may I apply later?
- What if I disagree with the school's decision about my application?
- May I apply if someone in my household is not a U.S. citizen?
- What if my income is not always the same?
- What if some household members have no income to report?
- We are in the military. Do we report our income differently?
- What if there isn't enough space on the application for my family?
- My family needs additional help. Are there other programs we might apply for?