Free & Reduced Meals

< School Meal Information

Free & Reduced Meals

The Sioux City Community School District participates in the federally subsidized National School Lunch Program. This program allows children from families that meet certain guidelines to receive free or reduced priced meals.

If your child is not directly certified for free or reduced price meals, please complete one Free & Reduced Meal Application per family.

Federal eligibility for free and reduced meals changes each school year on July 1st. Because of these annual changes, a new application must be submitted each school year. It's never too late to fill out an application for free and reduced meals for your child!

Did you know applying for free and reduced lunch can benefit your child and school community?

Free and reduced meal percentages are also used to determine eligibility for additional school resources and funding that can include:

  • Smaller class sizes

  • Additional classroom resources

  • Tutoring

Free & Reduced Meal Application

Free & Reduced Meal Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who can get free or reduced-price meals?

  • All children in households receiving benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP-formerly Food Assistance in Iowa), the Family Investment Program (FIP), or a few specific Medicaid programs are eligible for free or reduced-price meals.

  • Foster children that are under the legal responsibility of a foster care agency or court are eligible for free meals.

  • Children participating in their school’s Head Start program are eligible for free meals.

  • Children who meet the definition of homeless, runaway, or migrant are eligible for free meals.

  • Children may receive free or reduced-price meals if your household’s income is at or below the limits on the Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines below. (Requires submitting an Application for Free and Reduced Price Meals/Milk.)

Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines for the 2023-2024 School Year

Household Size

Free Meals

Reduced Price Meals

Yearly

Monthly

Twice per Month

Every Two Weeks

Weekly

Yearly

Monthly

Twice per Month

Every Two Weeks

Weekly

1

$18,954

$1,580

$790

$729

$365

$26,973

$2,248

$1,124

$1,038

$519

2

$25,636

$2,137

$1,069

$986

$493

$36,482

$3,041

$1,521

$1,404

$702

3

$32,318

$2,694

$1,347

$1,243

$622

$45,991

$3,833

$1,917

$1,769

$885

4

$39,000

$3,250

$1,625

$1,500

$750

$55,500

$4,625

$2,313

$2,135

$1,068

5

$45,682

$3,807

$1,904

$1,757

$879

$65,009

$5,418

$2,709

$2,501

$1,251

6

$52,364

$4,364

$2,182

$2,014

$1,007

$74,518

$6,210

$3,105

$2,867

$1,434

7

$59,046

$4,921

$2,461

$2,271

$1,136

$84,027

$7,003

$3,502

$3,232

$1,616

8

$65,728

$5,478

$2,739

$2,528

$1,264

$93,536

$7,795

$3,898

$3,598

$1,799

Each additional person:

$6,682

$557

$279

$257

$129

$9,509

$793

$397

$366

$183

If you have other questions or need additional assistance, please call Central Kitchen at 712-279-6862 or contact us by email.