Montgomery County Public Schools will increase meal prices for paying students beginning in the 2026-2027 school year following approval by the Board of Education on May 21.
According to MCPS, the approved plan calls for a phased increase in meal prices, with the first adjustment adding 30 cents to student meal costs next school year. Officials said the change comes after more than a decade without any increase in prices for families, despite rising operational costs.
MCPS says food and labor expenses tied to the school meal program have increased by more than $19 million over the past 10 years, while meal prices have remained unchanged since 2015. The district also noted that its current meal prices are the lowest among surrounding counties.
School officials emphasized that the increase will not affect students who currently receive free meals through federal and state assistance programs or the Community Eligibility Provision. More than 72,000 MCPS students are currently eligible for free meals.
MCPS also stated that it will continue its policy that no student is denied a meal, while maintaining safeguards such as grace periods for eligibility and ongoing efforts to expand access to free meals where possible.
The school system acknowledged that the increase may be significant for some families who pay for meals and said additional communication will be shared with the community over the summer and before the start of the next school year.
According to MCPS, the goal of the phased increase is to help sustain meal quality, avoid reductions in service, and maintain the long-term stability of the meal program.
