Family & Education

Will MCPS school meal prices increase? 

District proposes raising prices by up to 95 cents over three years

By

Ashlyn Campbell

April 17, 2026 11:29 a.m.

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Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) is exploring whether to gradually increase the price of school meals by a total of 95 cents over the next three years — although several county school board members say they are hesitant to do so. 

This would be “rising meal prices at one of the worst times of our economy,” school board President Grace Rivera-Oven said as the board discussed the idea during its Thursday work session in Rockville. “I cannot personally in good conscience, stand here today and tell you that I can support this.”  

The proposed price increases for breakfast and lunch meals are necessary to keep the MCPS Department of Food and Nutrition Services solvent, according to the department’s presentation to the board on Thursday. The department exists as an enterprise fund “designed to be self-sustaining” without funds from the district’s annual operating budget, according to Thursday’s presentation.  

Liz Leach, director of food and nutrition services, told the board the department is currently operating at a loss, and would soon be exhausting pandemic-related federal funds that the district has used to cover the difference.  

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According to the presentation, the department’s costs for food and labor have increased by more than $19 million from fiscal year 2015 to fiscal year 2025 and revenues have not kept up with expenses. The district hasn’t increased meal prices since 2015, according to MCPS officials.  

MCPS also has the lowest meal prices when compared to surrounding districts, according to the presentation, with meal prices for elementary and secondary school lunch at $2.55 and $2.80, respectively. Prince George’s County Public Schools, the district with the next lowest meal prices, charges $2.75 for an elementary school lunch and $3 for middle and high school lunches, according to MCPS.  

“To continue to provide quality meals, which is a top concern of many of our students … a meal price increase is necessary to discuss and to introduce,” MCPS Superintendent Thomas Taylor told the board. 

The discussio about proposed price increases comes after Saturday’s 5K Superintendent’s Shuffle in Gaithersburg’s Bohrer Park, a running and walking fundraiser aimed at decreasing the school district’s more than $1.2 million in school lunch debt. As of Monday, the event had raised almost $12,700 to help reduce the district’s meal debt, according to MCPS spokesperson Chris Cram. 

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To cover rising costs, the district is recommending increasing meal prices by 30 cents in fiscal year 2027, which begins July 1; 30 cents in fiscal year 2028; and 35 cents in fiscal year 2029. If approved, elementary school families would pay $2.85 in fiscal year 2027 for lunch, $3.15 in fiscal year 2028 and $3.50 in fiscal year 2029.  

For middle and high school students, the cost of lunch would increase to $3.10 in fiscal year 2027, $3.40 in fiscal year 2028 and $3.75 in fiscal year 2029. 

Several board members urged the district to explore alternative funding options.  

“We need really to start doing some very out-of-the-box thinking about engaging with our corporations, with engaging with our chamber of commerce and so on,” Rivera-Oven said. “These are our kids. And we need to start thinking holistically.” 

The proposed increases would not impact students who qualify to receive free and reduced-price (FARMS) lunches, according to Leach. She also noted that students are not denied meals if they can’t pay for them.  

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Without the increases, MCPS said the district would need to consider reducing staff, removing breakfast programs or identifying an alternative revenue source, which could lead to increased wait times and decreased meal quality, according to the presentation.  

Though the proposed increases wouldn’t impact students receiving FARMS meals, several school board members said there were many MCPS families who were on the cusp of qualifying for FARMS meals or who were afraid to complete forms for the program due to concerns about immigration enforcement.  

“I know you all work really hard with what you have. I’m already concerned about the quality of the food,” board member Rita Montoya said. “I do get really concerned about raising prices at a time where everything is so expensive.”  

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Originally published at Bethesdamagazine