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Applications are open for families to apply for free or reduced-price meals at Knox County Schools for the 2026-27 school year.
All children in households receiving SNAP or Families First benefits are eligible for free meals regardless of income, and children can receive free or reduced meals if their household's gross income is within the Federal Income Eligibility Guideline limits.
For a family of three during the 2026-27 school year, the annual income limit is $35,516 for free meals and $50,542 for reduced-price meals, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
If children attend a Community Eligibility Provision school in KCS, families do not need to fill out an application. This provision of a 2010 law allows schools in low-income areas to provide meals at no charge to all enrolled students regardless of income. This includes all preschools and the Knoxville Education Adaptive Center.
Knox County schools with free lunch for all
Elementary schools
- Adrian Burnett Elementary
- Amherst Elementary
- Belle Morris Elementary
- Bonny Kate Elementary
- Carter Elementary
- Cedar Bluff Elementary
- Christenberry Elementary
- Copper Ridge Elementary
- Dogwood Elementary
- East Knox County Elementary
- Fountain City Elementary
- Gap Creek Elementary
- Gibbs Elementary
- Inskip Elementary
- Karns Elementary
- Lonsdale Elementary
- Maynard Elementary
- Mooreland Heights Elementary
- Mount Olive Elementary
- New Hopewell Elementary
- Norwood Elementary
- Pleasant Ridge Elementary
- Pond Gap Elementary
- Powell Elementary
- Ritta Elementary
- South Knoxville ELementary
- Spring Hill Elementary
- Sterchi Elementary
- West Haven Elementary
- West Hills Elementary
- West View Elementary
Middle schools
- Bearden Middle
- Beaumont Magnet
- Carter Middle
- Cedar Bluff Middle
- Chilhowee Intermediate
- Gibbs Middle
- Green Magnet Academy
- Gresham Middle
- Holston Middle
- Northwest Middle
- Powell Middle
- Sara Moore Greene Magnet
- South-Doyle Middle
- Vine Middle Magnet
- Whittle Springs Middle
High schools
- Austin-East Magnet High School
- Career Magnet Academy
- Carter High
- Central High
- Fulton High
- Gibbs High
- Paul L. Kelley Volunteer Academy
- Powell High
- Richard Yoakley Alternative
- Ridgedale Alternative
- South-Doyle High School
Knox County
Families at all other schools are encouraged to submit an application to determine their eligibility for free and reduced-price meals.
The application must be filled out annually through an online portal accessible at knoxschools.org or a paper application from the school. Families only need to fill out one application for all the students in a household. Applications can be submitted anytime during the school year.
For help or more information, call the Knox County Schools Nutrition Department, 865-594-3640 or [email protected].
Caitlyn Meisner is the K-12 education reporter for Knox News. Email tips and story ideas to [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Knox County Schools opens applications for free and reduced-price lunch
