Changes to the Cafeteria
By Songyi Pang and Leyla Delic | Features | Sept. 23, 2025
At Stanton College Preparatory School, students have long grown accustomed to enjoying free lunches served in the cafeteria. Yet as the 2025-2026 school year began, an unexpected change due to a new policy sparked conversation in every corner. On Sept. 22, 2025, Stanton officially started charging students for school lunch.
In March 2020, Duval County Public Schools introduced free lunches to all schools using additional federal funding designated for the COVID-19 pandemic. However, as of 2025, pandemic funding is no longer sufficient to allow free lunches as a viable service. Schools qualifying under the Community Eligibility Provision criteria, which require at least 40% of students to be enrolled in a public assistance program, may continue to offer these free meals. Meanwhile, students at Stanton and 37 other non-CEP schools must pack their own lunches or pay $4.25 for school lunches. For students who have relied on free lunch as a convenient option, this upcoming shift presents a challenge to accessing meals.
“The lunch lines are already so long, it takes forever to get your lunch, and now [some students] cannot get lunch [for free] at all,” said senior Tara Atta. “Some people might not bring their own lunch, and they are just not going to be eating the whole day.”
With the new policy in action, paying for school lunches may affect the lifestyle of students who have relied on the service long-term. Rather than worrying about what to bring, finding time to prepare food, and packing the food itself, they could be spending this time studying or doing extracurriculars. This policy has led students like sophomore Ellie Gregg to consider how such changes would align with daily routines.
“What if somebody is not able to cook their lunch in the morning or forgets their lunch?” said Gregg. “[What if they] cannot even pay for lunch? Then that is bad.”
Whether financial or time-related, the new lunch policy may pose inconveniences for students. If students are unable to pack their lunches, they must consider their budget while repeatedly refilling their accounts to pay for school meals. The policy has also raised concerns about students’ well-being and ability to learn.
“A lot of people [got free] school lunch because they [did not] bring lunch, and the policy might make it so they do not eat at all,” said freshman Na’tisha Parker-Calhoun. “If students cannot eat well, then they will probably not be attentive in class either.”
As the National Center for Biotechnology Information highlights, learning on an empty stomach may reduce students’ attention span due to a lack of nutritional value. Similarly, the United States Department of Agriculture stresses the need for a regular intake of fruits, vegetables, protein-rich foods and whole grains. Without such nutrients, the body’s energy may be lowered, consequently causing students to struggle in their classes. Eating healthily and habitually is crucial to both short-term and long-term benefits.
While students have initially expressed a sense of frustration over the new lunch policy, financial factors also lie behind this change. Paid lunches cost less than free lunches to distribute, reducing the amount of federal reimbursement the National School Lunch Program needs to receive to serve each meal. Revenue from student lunch payments and non-program food sales helps support the DCPS Food Service Department as well. Ms. Jane Zentko, the Food Service Director for Duval County Public Schools, oversees the district’s food service operations and explains how revenue from the new policy is used.
“The revenue generated must be used exclusively for the operation or improvement of the food service program,” said Ms. Zentko. “Any revenue is used to cover operating expenses including food, labor, equipment, maintenance, and overhead, while maintaining self-sufficiency and avoiding use of general education funds.”
Stanton students adjusting to the policy can receive financial assistance. In accordance with their needs, students may submit a Free and Reduced-Price School Meals application online. Students enrolled in food assistance programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program are automatically approved for free or reduced-price meals. These benefits are provided through the Electronic Benefits Transfer system, which issues a card allowing students to make purchases.
“Since I am on an [Electronic Benefits Transfer] plan, I get reduced lunch, so the policy does not affect me too much,” said senior Anthony Van. “I think [reduced-price meals] definitely benefit lower-income families.”
Along with benefits from meal programs, students may also shift to the option of packing homemade lunches as they adjust to the policy. Bringing a packed lunch can be a practical, cost-efficient option for those who may not want to habitually pay for meals. It saves time spent waiting in long lunch lines and gives students more control over their choices, allowing them to learn how to build a diet that may go beyond choices from the school cafeteria.
“[Packing lunch] lets students put in more time and thought into what they are eating and promote their own nutrition,” said junior Sofie Thakkar. “It teaches important life skills like how to cook and make your own meals.”
While the new lunch policy has raised concerns about finances and inconveniences, it has simultaneously opened opportunities for students to gain experience with making dietary decisions. Schools have also offered financial support through federal assistance programs. Regardless of the adjustments, maintaining healthy eating habits remains key for students’ well-being. New changes may bring uncertainty, but keeping an open mind can guide students and families through the transition.