Meal Rates, Loan Program & Procedures
Des Moines Public Schools Food and Nutrition Services Department serves approximately 30,000 meals daily in our school nutrition services program. School meals are planned to reflect the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. We strive to provide a nutritious breakfast and lunch for all students at an affordable cost. We encourage children to develop good eating habits. Menus are published monthly on this site.
Meal Prices
| Elementary | Middle School | High School | ||||
| Breakfast | Lunch | Breakfast | Lunch | Breakfast | Lunch | |
| Single Full Price | $1.65 | $2.70 | $1.75 | $2.75 | $1.80 | $2.85 |
| Single Reduced Rate | $.00 | $.40 | $.00 | $.40 | $.00 | $.40 |
| 5-Day Full Price | $8.25 | $13.50 | $8.75 | $13.75 | $9.00 | $14.25 |
| 5-Day Reduced Price | $0.00 | $2.00 | $0.00 | $2.00 | $0.00 | $2.00 |
| 20-Day Full Price | $33.00 | $54.00 | $35.00 | $55.00 | $36.00 | $57.00 |
| 20-Day Reduced Price | $0.00 | $8.00 | $0.00 | $8.00 | $0.00 | $8.00 |
| A la Carte Milk | $.45 | Adult Breakfast | $2.05 |
| After School Snack | Adult Lunch | $3.45 |
FREE AND REDUCED-PRICE MEALS
Families who earn less than 130 percent of the poverty level are eligible for free meals and those with incomes between 130 and 185 percent of poverty level qualify for reduced-price meals. In the Des Moines Schools, approximately 60 percent of the student enrollment qualifies for free or reduced-price meals. The prices for a paid breakfast and lunch are approved by the School board and the price of a reduced-price meal is established by the federal government.
To determine your eligibility for free or reduced-price meals, please read the guidelines and complete the application. Return it to the Central Nutrition Center, 1225 2nd Ave., Des Moines IA 50314. For more information about the application process, call 242-7636.
As the student goes through the lunch line he/she will enter their account number to purchase their meal. Students will be reminded by the cashier when their account balance falls below $5. Parents/Guardians are encouraged to maintain a positive account balance.
NEGATIVE MEAL BALANCE PROCEDURES
Negative balance messages are sent out twice a week by email and once a week by phone message.
ADULTS
- Adults will not be allowed to charge meals or ala carte items.
- Adults must have cash or money in their account to make a purchase.
HIGH SCHOOL
- Students will not be allowed to charge meals or ala carte items.
- Students must have cash or money in their account to make a purchase.
MIDDLE SCHOOL
- Student negative balances will be limited to $15 until the balance is paid in full.
- Students who have negative balances above this amount will be offered an alternate meal that will be charged to their account ($1.50/meal).
- No snack or ala carte items may be charged.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
- Student negative balances are limited to $75.
- Students who have negative balances above this amount will be offered an alternate meal that will be charged to their account ($1.50/meal).
- No ala carte items may be charged. This would include milk to drink with a lunch brought from home.