Reminder: Breakfast And Lunch Are Free For Every Student At 44 Escambia Schools; Others Must Apply

October 1, 2023

Breakfast and lunch are free for all students, regardless of income, this school year at 44 schools in Escambia County. Applications must be submitted for free or reduced price lunches at all other schools.

The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program means that parents of the students at these schools are not required to submit an application for the Free and Reduced Meal program at that school. However, siblings attending schools not on the CEP list will need to apply for eligibility.

The free meal schools are selected based upon income levels.

Meal applications, or payment, will be required at: Beulah Elementary, Blue Angels Elementary, Cook Elementary, Cordova Park Elementary, Hellen Caro Elementary, Kingsfield Elementary, Suter Elementary, Brown Barge Middle, Ransom Middle, Tate High and West Florida High. Parents at these schools should plan on providing their child with money for their meals until eligibility is established to avoid creating a deficit in their account. Funds can be added to student accounts online at myschoolapps.com.

This program has been in place since 2015 in Escambia County and was not related to the pandemic.

Free meal schools are:

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

  • Bellview Elementary
  • Bratt Elementary
  • Byrneville Elementary
  • Brentwood Elementary
  • C.A. Weis Elementary
  • Ensley Elementary
  • Ferry Pass Elementary
  • Global Learning Academy
  • Holm Elementary
  • Jim Allen Elementary
  • Lincoln Park Elementary
  • Lipscomb Elementary
  • Longleaf Elementary
  • McArthur Elementary
  • Molino Park Elementary
  • Montclair Elementary
  • Myrtle Grove Elementary
  • Navy Point Elementary
  • Oakcrest Elementary
  • Pine Meadow Elementary
  • Pleasant Grove Elementary
  • Scenic Heights Elementary
  • O.J. Semmes Elementary
  • Sherwood Elementary
  • Warrington Elementary
  • West Pensacola Elementary

MIDDLE SCHOOLS

  • Bailey Middle
  • Bellview Middle
  • Beulah Middle
  • Ernest Ward Middle
  • Ferry Pass Middle
  • Workman Middle

HIGH SCHOOLS

  • Escambia High
  • Northview High
  • Pensacola High
  • Pine Forest High
  • Washington High

OTHER SCHOOLS AND CENTERS

  • Acceleration Academy
  • Achieve Academy
  • Capstone
  • Escambia Westgate Center
  • Hope Horizon
  • Jacqueline Harris Preparatory Academy
  • Success Academy

Free/reduced meal applications are available here.

Pictured: An Escambia County School lunch. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Comments

15 Responses to “Reminder: Breakfast And Lunch Are Free For Every Student At 44 Escambia Schools; Others Must Apply”

  1. Bob on October 2nd, 2023 9:55 pm

    @Stumpknocker

    Why? Wouldn’t it be easier and more effective to just feed all of the kids instead of creating an unnecessary bureaucracy to determine if a family is desperate enough for their kids to receive food?

  2. Stumpknocker on October 2nd, 2023 7:11 pm

    I don’t think it should be done by school but rather have individuals apply . Although I find it odd they don’t like separation of schools until it’s considered.

  3. So basically..... on October 2nd, 2023 10:25 am

    ….those of us having to pay for our children’s lunches are paying for theirs AND someone else’s? I’m all for providing meals to ALL the children but not for separating them out where some get and others just have to make do.

  4. Big Jim on October 2nd, 2023 9:35 am

    With the vast majority of Escambia schools being included in the program ALL county schools should be included. No reason why Tate HS, West Florida HS, Ransom MS, and Brown Barge MS shouldn’t be on this divisive list. I am aware of students from low income families at each of these.

  5. RWA on October 2nd, 2023 8:30 am

    Some people simply can’t afford to feed their children a nutritious meal while other people easily can. Everyone has the option to apply for this service.

  6. Bewildered on October 2nd, 2023 2:52 am

    Wow- please take reading comprehension classes. Nobody begrudges free food for kids. Simply asking to offer it to all of them – not just some. living in a retain district should not be a reason to discriminate against anybody

  7. wow on October 1st, 2023 8:57 pm

    man yall really hating on some kids getting fed… shame on you
    some kids depend on this.

  8. Bob on October 1st, 2023 2:41 pm

    @brianh

    Yeah! And while we’re at it, let’s get Costco to stop calling them “Free Samples” and sue Publix for false advertising when they say “Buy One Get One Free”.

    …that, or we could just acknowledge that “free” can mean “with no charge at the point of sale”.

  9. Parent on October 1st, 2023 12:45 pm

    I noticed that Beulah Elementary is not on that list

  10. Anne on October 1st, 2023 8:49 am

    FEDERAL Free Lunch Program….Local School Districts, Nationwide, must abide by the rules and requirements.
    Can do a search for ‘Federal Free Lunch Program for more info.

  11. brianh on October 1st, 2023 8:48 am

    Wish they would stop saying “free”, it’s costing the taxpayers so free it is not.

  12. Mary on October 1st, 2023 8:16 am

    So glad we are able to feed everybody else’s kid a nice hot meal. I mean two. My kids get peanut butter and jelly.

  13. Mad on October 1st, 2023 8:14 am

    How come the new schools they built for the navy federal in Beulah has free lunch but ransom and Tate do not. Seems to me that the new school for all the high paid navy federal children should be charged seeing how all the new homes around it are 1500$ to 2500$ for rent

  14. Bewildered on October 1st, 2023 4:42 am

    Completely agree with Trish. Stop this division – apply free food and/or perks to every child. Just like DC politicians – divide and separate classes of people anywhere and any which way you can. Why put any child without cash in their hand in the position to feel inferior to the one next to him who pays the lunchroom cashier?

  15. Trish on October 1st, 2023 3:34 am

    I think if they can do this for 44 area schools, they should do it for all of them!