Pasco County Schools adjusting free meal program due to rising costs
By: Bryce Johnson
Pasco County Schools is making changes to its free meals program due to rising food costs and changes in federal legislation.
The district announced that the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program, which offers free breakfast and lunch to all students, is moving to a "hybrid model" for the 2025-2026 school year.
Schools in high-poverty areas will continue offering free meals to all students through the CEP program. However, all other schools will return to the traditional meal program, meaning families need to fill out Free and Reduced-Price Meal Applications to see if their child qualifies for free or discounted meals.
"We truly value the opportunity to support your child’s health and learning and remain committed to ensuring that every student has access to nutritious meals," the district wrote on its website.
Here are schools listed as CEP sites
Elementary Schools:
- Anclote Elementary
- Centennial Elementary
- Chester W Taylor Elementary
- Cotee River Elementary
- Cypress Elementary
- Dr Mary Giella Elementary
- Fox Hollow Elementary
- Gulf Highlands Elementary
- Gulf Trace Elementary
- Gulfside Elementary
- Hudson Academy
- Hudson Primary Academy
- James M Marlowe Elementary
- Lacoochee Elementary
- Mittye P Locke Achievement Center
- Moon Lake Elementary
- Pasco Elementary
- Richey Elementary
- Rodney B Cox Elementary
- Schrader Elementary
- Seven Springs Elementary
- Shady Hills Elementary
- Sunray Elementary
- West Zephyrhills Elementary
- Woodland Elementary
Middle Schools:
- Bayonet Point Middle
- Centennial Middle
- Chasco K-8
- Gulf Middle
- Pasco Middle
- Paul R Smith Middle
- Raymond B Stewart Middle
- River Ridge Middle
High Schools:
- Anclote High
- East Pasco Education Academy
- Fivay High
- Gulf High
- Pasco High
- West Pasco Education Academy
- Zephyrhills High
Charter Schools:
- Learning Lodges Academy
Here are schools listed as non-CEP sites
Elementary Schools:
- Bexley Elementary
- Connerton Elementary
- Deer Park Elementary
- Denham Oaks Elementary
- Double Branch Elementary
- Kirkland Ranch K-8
- Lake Myrtle Elementary
- Longleaf Elementary
- New River Elementary
- Oakstead Elementary
- Odessa Elementary
- Pine View Elementary
- Quail Hollow Elementary
- San Antonio Elementary
- Sand Pine Elementary
- Sanders Memorial Elementary
- Seven Oaks Elementary
- Skybrooke K-8
- Starkey Ranch K-8
- Trinity Elementary
- Trinity Oaks Elementary
- Veterans Elementary
- Watergrass Elementary
- Wesley Chapel Elementary
- Wiregrass Elementary
Middle Schools:
- Charles S Rushe Middle
- Crews Lake Middle
- Cypress Creek Middle
- Dr. John Long Middle
- Kirkland Ranch K-8
- Pinecrest Middle
- Pine View Middle
- Seven Springs Middle
- Skybrooke K-8
- Starkey Ranch K-8
- Thomas E Weightman Middle
High Schools:
- Angeline Academy of Innovation
- Cypress Creek High
- Hudson High
- James W Mitchell High
- Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation
- Land O' Lakes High
- Sunlake High
- Wendell Krinn Technical High School
- Wesley Chapel High
- Wiregrass Ranch High
Charter Schools:
- Academy at the Farm
- Athenian Academy
- Classical Preparatory
- Dayspring Academy
- Dayspring Angeline
- Imagine School at Land O Lakes
- Imagine School at Trinity
- Pepin Academy
- Pinecrest Academy K-5
- Plato Academy