Students Eligible for Free/Reduced School Lunch
Date updated: 02/07/2012
Chart Directory:
The National School Lunch Program is a federally-assisted meal program that provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to children each school day. National income guidelines determine the eligibility of students based on their families' household size and income. Children from families with incomes at or below 130 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG) are eligible for free meals. Those with incomes between 130 percent and 185 percent of the FPG are eligible for reduced-price meals. The FPG changes annually to account for shifts in the Consumer Price Index.
For the 2011-12 school year, a family of four with an annual household income between $29,055 and $41,348 qualified for reduced-cost lunches. A family of four with annual income of $29,054 or less qualified for free lunches.
What this chart shows: K-12 Students Eligible for Free or Reduced Lunch: Colorado & Larimer County School Districts, 2002-03 to 2011-12
Data Source: Colorado Department of Education
What the above data tell us:
Total school enrollment increased 12.9% in Colorado between the 2002-03 and 2011-12 school years. During this same time, students eligible for free or reduced school lunches increased 42.4% in Colorado. In 2002-03, 29.0% of students qualified for the free or reduced lunch program, compared to 41.3% in 2011-12.All three Larimer County school districts saw large increases in students eligible for free and reduced lunches during the last decade, ranging from a 67.6% increase in the Park School District in Estes Park to a 100.7% increase in Poudre School District.
While overall enrollment numbers in Larimer County increased by 6.7% or 2,699 students from 2002-03 to 2011-12, eligibility for the free or reduced lunch program grew by 99.4% or 7,001 students. In 2011-12, just over 14,000 students in Larimer County's public school system received free or reduced lunches.
The majority of schools in Larimer County also participate in the School Breakfast Program.
Additional Information:
Related Information on COMPASS -
- Affordable Rental Costs
- Children in Families - Single and Two Parents
- Enrollment by School District
- Federally Subsidized Housing
- Food Stamps
- Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP)
- Median Family Income
- Poverty
- Self-Sufficient Wages Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)
Other Resources -
- Colorado Department of Education - Colorado School Nutrition Program
- Federal Poverty Guidelines
- Nutrition and Your Health: Dietary Guidelines for Americans
- Park School District
- Poudre School District
- Poverty USA contains educational and advocacy information.
- Thompson School District United States Department of Agriculture - National School Lunch Program
Standards or Targets: N/A
Data Table:
K-12 Students Eligible for Free/Reduced School Lunch Program
|
Year |
Colorado |
Park |
Poudre |
Thompson |
||||
|
Enrollment |
% Eligible |
Enrollment |
% Eligible |
Enrollment |
% Eligible |
Enrollment |
% Eligible |
|
|
2002-03 |
728,807 | 29.0% | 1,367 | 20.4% | 24,207 | 15.3% | 14,774 | 20.7% |
|
2003-04 |
737,675 | 30.7% | 1,326 | 23.0% | 24,281 | 19.6% | 14,694 | 25.9% |
|
2004-05 |
745,262 | 32.1% | 1,240 | 23.9% | 24,428 | 20.6% | 14,683 | 27.2% |
|
2005-06 |
757,116 | 33.6% | 1,242 | 23.2% | 24,629 | 20.6% | 14,774 | 26.5% |
|
2006-07 |
769,472 | 34.3% | 1,250 | 24.2% | 24,817 | 25.0% | 14,976 | 27.4% |
|
2007-08 |
776,767 | 34.8% | 1,186 | 25.0% | 25,050 |
22.0% |
15,013 | 27.6% |
|
2008-09 |
790,163 | 35.8% | 1,156 | 28.7% | 25,310 | 24.3% | 14,987 | 28.4% |
|
2009-10 |
832,368 | 38.4% | 1,210 | 31.4% | 26,520 | 26.7% | 15,225 | 26.2% |
|
2010-11 |
812,723 | 40.3% | 1,126 | 33.2% | 26,174 | 27.6% | 14,847 | 32.2% |
|
2011-12 |
823,174 | 41.3% | 1,144 | 34.2% | 26,760 | 30.7% | 15,143 | 35.9% |