~ from Knox County Schools
Knox County Schools is announcing its policy for free and reduced-price meals for children served in schools under the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program.
The 2026-27 school year begins on Aug. 10, and families that are unable to pay for breakfast and lunch meals at school – or do not attend a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) school – can now apply for free and reduced-price meals.
Families can apply for meals through the LINQ Connect portal, and more information about LINQ Connect is available on this FAQ page. Paper applications are also available.
All children in households receiving benefits from SNAP or Families First can get free meals regardless of their income. In addition, children can get free or reduced meals if their household’s gross income is within the free or reduced limits on the Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines. However, the application for free and reduced-price meals must be filled out annually.
For School Year 2026-27, KCS will continue to participate in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) at select schools. All children at CEP schools will receive breakfast and lunch at no charge under this provision. A complete list of CEP schools is as follows:
CEP Schools:
| Adrian Burnett Elementary | Fountain City Elementary | Pond Gap Elementary |
| Amherst Elementary | Fulton High | Powell Elementary |
| Austin East High | Gap Creek Elementary | Powell High |
| Bearden Middle | Gibbs Elementary | Powell Middle |
| Beaumont Magnet | Gibbs High | Richard Yoakley |
| Belle Morris Elementary | Gibbs Middle | Ridgedale |
| Bonny Kate Elementary | Green Magnet | Ritta Elementary |
| Career Magnet | Gresham Middle | Sarah Moore Greene Magnet |
| Carter Elementary | Holston Middle | South Doyle High |
| Carter High | Inskip Elementary | South Doyle Middle |
| Carter Middle | Karns Elementary | South Knoxville Elementary |
| Cedar Bluff Elementary | Karns Preschool | Spring Hill Elementary |
| Cedar Bluff Middle | KAEC | Sterchi Elementary |
| Cedar Bluff Preschool | Lonsdale Elementary | Sunnyview Primary |
| Central High | Maynard Elementary | Vine Middle |
| Chilhowee Intermediate | Mooreland Heights Elementary | West Haven Elementary |
| Christenberry Elementary | Mount Olive Elementary | West Hills Elementary |
| Copper Ridge Elementary | New Hopewell Elementary | West View Elementary |
| Dogwood Elementary | Northwest Middle | Whittle Springs Middle |
| East Knox Elementary | Norwood Elementary | |
| Fair Garden | Paul L. Kelley Volunteer | |
| Fort Sanders | Pleasant Ridge Elementary |
CEP is a key provision of the Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010, which allows schools in low-income areas to eliminate school meal applications and serve breakfast and lunch at no charge to all enrolled students. Breakfast and lunch meals will follow the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) guidelines for healthy school meals, so please encourage students to participate.
If students do NOT attend a CEP school, families are encouraged to submit a free and reduced-price meal application to determine their eligibility for free and reduced-price meals. A list of non-CEP schools is as follows:
NON-CEP Schools:
| AL Lotts Elementary | Farragut Middle | Karns Middle |
| Ball Camp Elementary | Farragut Primary | Mill Creek Elementary |
| Bearden Elementary | Halls Elementary | Northshore Elementary |
| Bearden High | Halls High | Rocky Hill Elementary |
| Blue Grass Elementary | Halls Middle | Sequoyah Elementary |
| Brickey-McCloud Elementary | Hardin Valley Academy | Shannondale Elementary |
| Corryton Elementary | Hardin Valley Elementary | STEM Academy |
| Farragut High | Hardin Valley Middle | West High |
| Farragut Intermediate | Karns High | West Valley Middle |
Children need healthy meals to learn. Knox County Schools offers healthy meals every school day. Breakfast and lunch meals will follow the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) guidelines for healthy school meals, so please encourage students to participate. “In the operation of child feeding programs, no child will be discriminated against because of race, sex, color, national origin, age or disability.”
Parents or guardians who need further information may contact Knox County Schools Nutrition Department at 865-594-9563.
