Coral Springs school lunch prices rise again for 2026-2027 school year
Coral Springs, Florida – Families in Coral Springs are once again preparing for higher school meal costs, as Broward County Public Schools approved another round of lunch price increases for the 2026–2027 school year. The decision, made during the school board’s Tuesday, June 23 meeting, continues a gradual shift in meal pricing that began after more than a decade of stability.
For 12 years, school lunch prices in the district remained unchanged, even as broader economic conditions fluctuated. That long stretch ended when federal pandemic-era programs that temporarily covered meals for all students expired. With those supports gone and food and staffing expenses rising, the district first raised prices last year. Now, officials say another adjustment is necessary.
Under the newly approved plan, students across all grade levels will see a $1 increase in lunch prices. Beginning this fall, elementary school lunches will cost $4.00, up from $3.00. Middle school students will pay $4.35, compared to the previous $3.35. High school lunch prices will rise to $4.50, up from $3.50.
District officials noted that while lunch prices are increasing, some meal benefits remain unchanged. The reduced-price lunch program will continue at $0.40 per meal, offering a low-cost option for qualifying families. Breakfast, meanwhile, remains free for all students, a policy that has continued even as lunch prices shift upward.
The district said the price adjustments are tied to a federal requirement known as Paid Lunch Equity. This mandate requires school districts to ensure that the revenue generated from meal prices is sufficient to cover the actual costs of food and labor. As those costs have increased in recent years, the district has had to align pricing accordingly.
From 2012 through 2024, Broward County did not increase school lunch prices, maintaining a steady cost structure for more than a decade. However, district officials explained that the end of pandemic-era meal programs, combined with inflationary pressures, led to higher operational costs. The price increase implemented last year marked the first adjustment in years, and the latest hike continues that trend.
Alongside the pricing changes, the school board also approved coverage of significant unpaid meal debt. An estimated $720,433 in student meal debt from the 2025–2026 school year will be absorbed by the district’s general fund. Officials said this step is intended to prevent outstanding balances from affecting student participation in meal programs.
Access to free meals will still depend on school eligibility and federal program qualifications. Students at James S. Hunt Elementary, Coral Springs Elementary, Parkside Elementary, and Forest Hills Elementary will continue to receive free breakfast and lunch under a federal initiative that supports schools with higher concentrations of families facing financial hardship.
For students at other Coral Springs schools, families will need to apply for free or reduced-price meal assistance if they believe they qualify. District officials encouraged households to submit applications, noting that eligibility is based on income guidelines established at the federal level.
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The district emphasized that while price increases are never an easy decision, they are necessary to maintain the quality and sustainability of school meal services. Rising food costs, supply chain pressures, and labor expenses continue to shape how school nutrition programs are funded and managed.
For parents, the changes mean adjusting household budgets once again as the new school year approaches. For the district, it represents an ongoing effort to balance federal requirements, financial realities, and the goal of ensuring every student has access to school meals.
As Coral Springs schools prepare for the 2026–2027 year, families will begin receiving updated information on meal pricing, application processes, and eligibility details in the coming months. Officials say communication efforts will continue to ensure parents are aware of the changes well before the first bell rings.
