The national average of public school students eligible for free lunch is approximately 50% (2026).
The state with highest average of public school students eligible for free lunch is Nevada with 80%. The state with lowest average of public school students eligible for free lunch is New Hampshire with 20%.
Free Lunch Range: 20%
80%
Avg. Free Lunch: 50%
Average Percent of Public School Students Eligible For Free Lunch (2026)
State
Percent of Students Eligible For Free Lunch
Schools With Largest Percent of Students Eligible for Free Lunch
Rank: #11.
80%
Rank: #22.
74%
Rank: #3-43-4.
68%
Rank: #3-43-4.
68%
Rank: #55.
67%
Rank: #66.
60%
Rank: #77.
59%
Rank: #8-98-9.
57%
Rank: #8-98-9.
57%
Rank: #10-1210-12.
56%
Rank: #10-1210-12.
56%
Rank: #10-1210-12.
56%
Rank: #1313.
55%
Rank: #14-1514-15.
54%
Rank: #14-1514-15.
54%
Rank: #1616.
51%
Rank: #17-1817-18.
50%
Rank: #17-1817-18.
50%
Rank: #19-2019-20.
49%
Rank: #19-2019-20.
49%
Rank: #2121.
48%
Rank: #2222.
47%
Rank: #2323.
45%
Rank: #2424.
44%
Rank: #25-2625-26.
43%
Rank: #25-2625-26.
43%
Rank: #27-3027-30.
42%
Rank: #27-3027-30.
42%
Rank: #27-3027-30.
42%
Rank: #27-3027-30.
42%
Rank: #3131.
40%
Rank: #32-3332-33.
39%
Rank: #32-3332-33.
39%
Rank: #34-3534-35.
38%
Rank: #34-3534-35.
38%
Rank: #36-3936-39.
37%
Rank: #36-3936-39.
37%
Rank: #36-3936-39.
37%
Rank: #36-3936-39.
37%
Rank: #40-4140-41.
36%
Rank: #40-4140-41.
36%
Rank: #4242.
35%
Rank: #43-4443-44.
33%
Rank: #43-4443-44.
33%
Rank: #4545.
32%
Rank: #4646.
31%
Rank: #4747.
28%
Rank: #48-4948-49.
26%
Rank: #48-4948-49.
26%
Rank: #5050.
24%
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the national average of public school students eligible for free lunch?
The national average of public school students eligible for free lunch is 50% for 2026.
What are schools with the highest average of public school students eligible for free lunch in the United States?
The schools with the highest average of public school students eligible for free lunch in the United States include Palolo Elementary School, Winooski High School and Ledyard Charter School.
What is the state with the highest average of public school students eligible for free lunch?
The state with the highest average of public school students eligible for free lunch is Nevada.
Recent Articles
What It Takes to Run a Public School Day-to-Day
Explore what it takes to run a public school daily, from leadership and staffing to budgeting, safety, and student support systems.
Restorative Justice in Schools: What the Data Shows
Explore restorative justice in schools, including discipline data, outcomes, and implementation insights for educators and families.
Year-Round School Calendars: Pros, Cons, Research
Explore year-round school calendars, including benefits, drawbacks, and what academic research says about student outcomes.