All students at 69 Austin ISD campuses can receive free breakfast and lunch throughout the 2026-27 school year, with no application or household documentation required at participating schools.
The meals are provided through the federally funded Community Eligibility Provision, known as CEP. It allows qualifying schools in lower-income areas to serve free meals to every enrolled student, rather than checking each child's individual meal status.
The participating list includes Uphaus Early Childhood Center, 48 elementary schools, nine middle schools, eight high schools and several other campuses or child-development centers.
How families can check their school
Austin ISD has published the complete list of 69 participating campuses in its official announcement. Families should check that list carefully because free meals for every student do not apply automatically at every school in the district.
At schools outside the CEP program, students will continue to receive meals according to their approved free, reduced-price or paid status. Texas funding means students approved for reduced-price meals will also receive breakfast and lunch at no charge in 2026-27.
Families at non-participating schools may qualify through state benefits such as SNAP or TANF, through foster care and certain other programs, or by completing a meal-benefits application through SchoolCafe. Paper forms are available from schools.
Meal prices at other Austin ISD campuses
For students paying the full price, elementary breakfast is $1.90 and breakfast at middle and high schools is $2.15. Elementary lunch is $3.40, while middle and high school lunch is $3.65.
The district says students with insufficient account funds can charge the equivalent of up to five breakfasts and five lunches. Once that limit is reached, a courtesy lunch is provided and there is no stated limit on the number of courtesy meals.
Families can apply for meal benefits at any time during the school year. Anyone who believes a child qualifies but has not received confirmation can contact Austin ISD Food Service on 512-414-0251.
The free-meal program can reduce paperwork and remove the difference between pupils paying in different ways at participating campuses. It also gives families a predictable school-day food cost at a time when other household bills may be changing.
School participation and prices can change in later academic years, so this guide applies specifically to 2026-27. The Austin ISD free-meals announcement contains the full campus list and application links in English and Spanish.
