HOUSTON COUNTY, Ga. — Students at 31 schools in Houston County will receive meals at no cost during the 2024-2025 school year, thanks to an expanded federal program aimed at reducing hunger and improving academic performance.
The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), allows schools with high numbers of low-income students to offer breakfast and lunch free of charge to all students, regardless of their family’s income. This year, 12 additional schools in Houston County have been approved for the program, bringing the total to 31.
“We’ve seen firsthand the positive impact that easier access to healthy meals can have on student achievement and school culture,” said Meredith Potter, director of school nutrition for the Houston County School District. “Expanding this initiative means we can reach even more students who need that support.”
The newly added schools are David Perdue Primary, David Perdue Elementary, Eagle Springs Elementary, Feagin Mill Middle, Hilltop Elementary, Lake Joy Elementary, Lake Joy Primary, Langston Road Elementary, Langston Road Primary, Perry Middle, Perry High and Quail Run Elementary.
Under the CEP, no action is required from parents or guardians. Students at participating schools automatically receive free meals without needing to apply for free or reduced lunch.
“We say that fed kids are happy kids,” Ciara Northern, assistant principal at Feagin Mill Middle School said. “And we think that’s the case around here. These students are getting one more thing that they don’t have to worry about now.”
The program also alleviates financial stress for families who may not qualify for traditional free or reduced-price lunch programs but still struggle to make ends meet.
“The fact that they are getting it for free, and also able to pick up things from the share cart and get those snacks that they are able to take home is a really big deal,” Northern said. “For some people, it’s like getting a raise. If you have multiple children, you could be paying hundreds of dollars per month on food.”
Schools qualify for the CEP based on the percentage of students directly certified through federal assistance programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). Foster, homeless, runaway, and migrant children are also included in the directly certified category.
Potter emphasized the importance of the program in supporting student success across the district.
“If we can provide that basic need here, it does enable families to spend those monies elsewhere,” Potter said.
Parents with children in non-CEP schools are still encouraged to submit the Free and Reduced Meal Application, which is available on the district’s website.
The full list of Houston County schools participating in the CEP program can be found here.