"School Lunch Prices to Rise Slightly in 2026-27 as USDA Makes Annual Adjustment. In a move that will impact millions of students across the United States, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a 1-cent increase in school lunch prices for the upcoming 2026-27 academic year. This annual adjustment, which is mandated by the federal government, will see the cost of school meals rise from last year's rates. The subtle price hike may not be immediately noticeable to families, but it marks the latest development in the ongoing effort to balance the cost of providing nutritious meals to students with the need to keep prices affordable for parents and guardians."
Most school lunch payments will see a 1 cent increase in 2026-27 from last year's rates under the U.S. Department of Agriculture's annual adjustment.
