• Applying for free or reduced-price meals

    Every child deserves access to healthy meals at school. If your family qualifies, your student can receive breakfast and lunch at a discounted rate or even for free. Your application matters! Even if your child doesn't eat school meals every day, applying for meal benefits may help your family and your school.

    When more families apply and qualify:

    • Your school may receive more funding for books, teachers, and academic programs.
      • These funds provide additional teachers and staff for the school, which means more services for students, including materials and supplies. These are valuable resources that teachers can use to improve student achievement.
    • Paper applications will always be available throughout all of our schools, and at Central Office, or you can call 919-588-3535 or 919-856-2920 to have one mailed to you.
    • Students can receive school meal benefits regardless of the immigration status of household members, and information provided by the household will not be used for immigration-related purposes.

     

    How to apply online

    You can apply online anytime during the school year. The application is available in multiple languages, and it's mobile-friendly.

     

    Application Resources

     

    Meal Benefits Expiration Date

    Meal benefits from last school year will continue for the first 30 school days of the new year, based on your child’s school calendar.​ To keep receiving free or reduced-price meals, families must submit a new application each school year. New school year applications open on July 1.

    • Year-round track 1: August 18, 2025
    • Modified: September 2, 2025
    • Year-round track 2: September 5, 2025
    • Year-round track 3: September 8, 2025
    • Year-round track 4: September 9, 2025
    • Knightdale High, North Wake College and Career Academy, Vernon Malone College and Career Academy, Wake Early College of Health and Science, Wake Early College of Information and Biotechnologies: September 16, 2025
    • Leadership Academies: September 17, 2025
    • STEM Early College: September 18, 2025
    • Traditional: October 7, 2025

     

    Questions about applying for free and reduced meals:

    • (919) 856-2920 (English)
    • (919) 588-3535 (English and Spanish)
    • cnsmealbenefits@wcpss.net
    • Free and Reduced-Price Benefits Office fax number: (919) 856-3704