freelunch

ALLEN COUNTY PROFILE HOME > EDUCATION CHAPTER > Free and Reduced Lunch

Search using A-Z Index or by

National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools, and residential child care institutions. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches each school day. The program was established in 1946. Eligibility requirements are linked to federal poverty guidelines, with those below 130% of the poverty status eligible for free lunch, and those families at less than 185% eligible for reduced price lunch.

Data on individual schools in Allen County is given in the Success By 6: Condition of Children web site.

PERCENT PARTICIPATION IN FREE OR REDUCED LUNCH PROGRAM:
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND STATE AVERAGE

SACS

NACS

FWCS

EACS

Allen County
Public Avg.

State Avg.

Year

2000-01

2.7%

5.9%

40.2%

25.3%

27.8%

2001-02

3.1%

7.4%

44.6%

29.0%

29.7%

2002-03

3.8%

8.2%

47.7%

28.9%

31.1%

2003-04

4.5%

10.0%

50.7%

32.2%

38.4%

33.4%

2004-05

6.2%

8.4%

52.7%

35.5%

39.5%

34.7%

2005-06

4.1%

9.0%

54.0%

36.2%

39.9%

34.4%

PERCENT PARTICIPATION IN FREE OR REDUCED LUNCH PROGRAM: ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND STATE AVERAGE
	SACS	NACS	FWCS	EACS	Allen County Public Avg.	State Avg.
Year
2000-01	2.7%	5.9%	40.2%	25.3%		27.8%
2001-02	3.1%	7.4%	44.6%	29.0%	29.7%
2002-03	3.8%	8.2%	47.7%	28.9%	31.1%
2003-04	4.5%	10.0%	50.7%	32.2%	38.4%	33.4%
2004-05	6.2%	8.4%	52.7%	35.5%	39.5%	34.7%
2005-06	4.1%	9.0%	54.0%	36.2%	39.9%	34.4%

FREE OR REDUCED LUNCH PARTICIPATION

Comments and General Information on the Free and Reduced Lunch Program:

With the exception of Northwest Allen, the overall greatest participation rate is in the elementary schools.

In school year 1999/00, 38.9% of all FW Community School students were in the FRSL program. In 2005/06, that percentage was 54%.

6,796 children between the ages of 6-17 lived in poverty in Allen County in 1999 (2000 Census), most within Fort Wayne city limits.

In Indiana, approximately 35% of of all public students are enrolled in the reduced or free lunch program.

While the number of students in FW Community Schools has remained relatively stable or decreased slightly (31,128 in 1999/00; 30,715 in 2003/04), the number of students on reduced or free lunch has increased by almost 5,000.

On average, the number of students who are on the free lunch program are over three times as many as those on the reduced lunch program.

Documentation is not necessary to enroll in the FRL program.

22.1 percent of all individuals(of all ages), or 72,053 people in Allen County lived below 185% of poverty as of the 2000 Census.

Sources: Indiana Department of Education Web Site -this link is to the school data page. Data is available either through accessing individual school data or through the Dept of Ed's trend data option.
Food Research and Action Center explain Federal Food Programs (CRI and CPI do not endorse any organizations, but have found the information on this web site helpful).
USDA discusses food programs.

Data Release Dates: School Performance Reports, which contain this free or reduced lunch data, are updated annually. The data for this update was taken in December from the school profile summaries on the Indiana Department of Education web site.

Access the spreadsheet file (microsoft excel) containing this data.

EDUCATION:
Free Lunch

To return to Education Chapter

Home Page

Health

Population

Social Welfare

CRI Home Page

REDUCED AND FREE LUNCH