1. What is the Free & Reduced Meals Program?

The National School Lunch Program provides nutritious meals to students at no cost or at a reduced price. This program is important in ensuring that all students have access to healthy meals during the school day.

  1. How does my child qualify for free or reduced-price meals?

Families may quality based on  household income and size. Students in households receiving meal benefits from the state can also qualify. Apply now to check your eligibility. This application is available on our website in English, Spanish, and Russian.

Free Meals for All Students at Gause, Hathaway, and CRGE

Thanks to a new state program, schools with 30% or more students eligible for free or reduced-price meals receive free meals for all students. This threshold is determined by the state, not the school district, and is outlined in House Bill 1238. The following schools qualify for free meals for all students in 2024-25:

  • Gause Elementary
  • Hathaway Elementary
  • Columbia River Gorge Elementary

Families with students at the above schools are still encouraged to apply for the National School Lunch Program, because it qualifies families for additional discounts on fees and scholarship opportunities. Also, in order for schools to qualify for free meals for all students, schools must apply each year and show that at least 30% of students qualify for free or reduced price meals. Applying for the National School Lunch Program helps your school to reach the 30% threshold to qualify for free meals for all students in the next school year.

Cape Horn-Skye Elementary School, Jemtegaard Middle School, Canyon Creek Middle School, and Washougal High School do not meet the state threshold for free meals for all students. Families served at these schools are still encouraged to fill out the Free and Reduced price meal application. Individual families can still qualify for the Federal meal program, which provides free or discounted meals to eligible families. 

  1. Why do only some schools in Washougal receive free meals for all students?

Free meals provided for all students at Gause, Hathaway, and Columbia River Gorge Elementary (CRGE) in the 2024-25 school year are funded through Washington State’s House Bill 1238. This bill offers free meals to all students in schools where 30% or more of children are eligible for free or reduced-price meals. 

Cape Horn-Skye Elementary, Jemtegaard Middle School, Canyon Creek Middle School, and Washougal High School do not meet this threshold determined by the state, but families with students attending these schools can still qualify for the National School Lunch Program and are encouraged to apply.

  1. Meals are free for students at my child’s school this year. Should I still apply for the Federal Free & Reduced Meal Program?

Yes! Families are still strongly encouraged to apply for the National School Lunch Program in order to qualify for additional discounts on fees and scholarship opportunities.

  1. House Bill 1238 doesn’t qualify my child’s school for free meals to all students this year. Can my student still apply for the free meals program?

Yes! Families served at Cape Horn-Skye Elementary, Jemtegaard Middle School, Canyon Creek Middle School and Washougal High School are still encouraged to fill out the Free and Reduced price meal application. Individual families can still qualify for the National School Lunch Program, which provides free or discounted meals to eligible families. The meal applications are on our website in English, Spanish and Russian.

  1. How do I apply for free or reduced-price meals?

You can apply using the form on our district’s Food Services webpage. The application process is straightforward, and forms are available in multiple languages including English, Spanish, and Russian. Apply Here!

  1. When is the application due?

Apply before the beginning of the school year to immediately begin receiving free or discounted meals on the first day of school. Families who did not qualify for free or reduced meals last school year and do not apply for the 2024-25 school year before the first day of school will be charged full price starting on the first day of school.

For families who qualified for free or reduced meals last year and are renewing their eligibility this year, there is a rollover “grace period” through October 14. Families who have not turned in a new form for the 2024-25 school year by October 14 will be charged full price starting on October 15, 2024.

  1. What other benefits come with qualifying for free or reduced-price meals?

In addition to receiving free or reduced price meals, qualifying families may also be eligible for discounts on fees, scholarships, and other assistance programs.

  1. Is my application information kept confidential?

Yes, all information provided in the Free & Reduced Meals Program application is confidential. The information is only used to determine eligibility. Students are never called out or identified as receiving free or reduced meals, and students receiving free or reduced meals are served the same food as everyone else.

  1. Who can I contact if I have more questions?

For more information and application process instructions, please visit our Food Services webpage.