GF child nutrition numbers climb

The number of students qualifying for free or reduced-priced lunch in the Grand Forks School District is up this year.

The Child Nutrition Department survey suggests nearly a third of all students (32.6%) qualify under the program.  That’s the equivalent of nearly 2,500 K-12 kids.  That compares to 27.46% during the 2021-22 school year – although the past two years all students received free meals due to federal COVID-19 relief funding.

Business Manager Brandon Baumbach calls it an important survey that has financial implications for the district.  “It impacts the reimbursement rate we receive from the USDA directly and different grant programs or homeless programs for example.  Federal programs use that free or reduced number – or percentage – to set qualification of dollars to school districts.”

Discovery school has the lowest participation rates at just 12%.  Lake Agassiz is on the opposite end of the scale at over 66.3%.

A family of four can qualify for the program with a household income of less than $51,338 dollars.