Children Receiving Free or Reduced-price School Lunch - Public Schools
Children Receiving Free or Reduced-price Lunch[view
data]
Data Provider:NYS Education Department
Life
Area: Economic Security
Definition:
Free and Reduced-price School Lunch participation identifies the number and percentage of public school students in full-day kindergarten (K) though sixth grade participating in one of New York State's primary school nutrition programs. The percent is computed by dividing the number of students with an approved application for either free or reduced-price lunch by the total enrollment for those public school grades and multiplying by 100 for the school year. Eligibility is determined by federal guidelines for family income and size.
Significance:
The percentage of students participating in the School Lunch Program is an indicator of student poverty and its concentration in public schools. Research has documented that children from low-income families are more likely than others to go without necessary food; less likely to be in good preschool programs; more likely to be retained in grade; and more likely to drop out of school. The School Lunch Program provides low income children with access to nutrition and in turn promotes learning readiness and healthy eating habits.
Note:
Students in grades K-6 are used as an indicator of student poverty, as opposed to all students in grades K-12, because there is a tendency among students at the junior and senior high school levels not to apply for a free or reduced-price school lunch. This tendency may or may not be equal across schools and districts.
Findings:
In 2007/08, 49.1 percent of New York State's public school students in grades K-6 received free or reduced-price school lunch. This figure represents a slight decrease from the 1999/00 school year, the percent of New York State children in grades K-6 in New York City receiving free or reduced-price school lunch has also shown a slight decline since 1999/00.
In 2007/08, 77.5 percent of New York City public school children in grades K-6 received free or reduced-price school lunch compared to 32.6 percent in Rest of State. Comparing 1999/00 through 2007/08, this disparity between New York City and Rest of State in the percent of children receiving free or reduced-price school lunch in grades K-6 has remained fairly constant.
In 2007/08, Franklin (54.6%), Chenango (51.6%) and Sullivan (50.5%) Counties had the highest percentages of students in grades K-6 receiving free or reduced-price school lunch outside of New York City. In 2007/08, Putnam (7.3%), Saratoga (16.7%), and Nassau (17.9%) had the lowest percentages of students in grades K-6 receiving free or reduced-price school lunch.
KWIC
Indicator(s) and Narrative For: