Education
Students Eligible for Free/Reduced Price Lunch


Students Eligible for Free/Reduced Price Lunch

What does this measure?

The number of students eligible for free or reduced price lunch as a percentage of total K-12 enrollment. Students are eligible for free lunch if their family's income is at or below 130% of the federal poverty threshold and for reduced price lunch if income is 130-185% of that threshold.

Why is this important?

This measure not only shows the proportion of low-income students and families in an area, it is also an indication of the potential challenges facing schools as they work to educate children who have fewer resources at home.

How is our county performing?

In 2018, 50% of students in Berks County were eligible for free or reduced price lunch, a 27 percentage point increase since 2000. In 2018, 46% of students in Pennsylvania were eligible for free or reduced price lunch, a 17 percentage point increase since 2000. Half of students in the U.S. were eligible in 2017, with a similar increase from 2000 as the state.

In 2018, eligibility for free or reduced price lunch varied widely among local school districts. The lowest proportions were in Boyertown (23%), Daniel Boone (25%), and Oley Valley (27%). The highest proportion was in Reading, at 93%, followed by Muhlenberg (54%) and Wilson (46%).

Berks rate was higher than surrounding counties, especially Chester (20%) and Montgomery (27%).

Notes about the data

Data are from the National Center for Education Statistics. With the passage of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, the National School Lunch Program now includes a "Community Eligibility" provision allowing districts with at least 40% of students qualifying for free meals to serve free meals to all enrolled students. National data not available for 2018.

There may be additional research available on this topic. Click on Reports and Resources to learn more.

Students Eligible for Free/Reduced Price Lunch
2000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018
United States34%34%37%37%36%37%42%41%41%44%46%48%50%51%52%50%52%52%
Pennsylvania29%28%28%29%28%28%31%30%31%33%38%39%40%41%44%46%47%43%46%
Berks County23%22%24%26%24%24%30%29%33%35%40%41%42%43%46%49%51%49%50%
Berks County Regions
Central
Northeast
South
Southeast
West
Reading city
Berks County Peers
Chester County11%11%11%11%11%10%12%12%12%12%19%21%23%26%27%23%21%19%20%
Lancaster County21%21%22%22%21%21%27%27%28%30%33%35%36%39%40%45%47%46%46%
Lebanon County20%20%21%21%20%21%26%25%28%29%33%33%36%39%42%42%48%46%47%
Lehigh County26%29%25%29%26%28%34%36%38%39%37%44%42%43%46%41%44%49%51%
Montgomery County12%11%11%11%10%10%12%13%13%15%18%19%21%22%24%27%25%27%27%
Schuylkill County28%28%29%30%28%30%32%33%34%37%40%41%42%46%47%49%50%46%54%
School Districts
Antietam School District11%11%16%18%15%17%24%28%31%33%34%38%37%42%46%47%48%58%43%
Boyertown Area School District8%7%9%7%9%7%11%9%12%13%14%15%17%19%20%21%24%23%23%
Brandywine Heights Area School District9%8%8%11%8%11%9%5%8%10%18%19%19%19%23%25%28%29%31%
Conrad Weiser Area School District11%11%8%13%8%12%16%18%19%24%24%25%28%30%34%33%29%34%34%
Daniel Boone Area School District13%11%11%11%10%10%13%11%14%13%16%14%19%20%22%25%26%22%25%
Exeter Township School District10%12%10%11%10%10%12%13%14%15%17%17%17%24%26%26%31%28%30%
Fleetwood Area School District9%10%10%11%9%10%13%14%16%17%17%19%19%19%18%28%27%30%28%
Governor Mifflin School District6%7%9%10%9%10%14%15%17%20%23%23%30%32%36%39%38%39%38%
Hamburg Area School District10%9%9%11%9%11%20%22%25%27%31%31%35%37%38%39%42%39%42%
Kutztown Area School District8%9%10%10%10%10%14%15%17%18%20%18%21%23%23%24%29%29%28%
Muhlenberg School District12%12%14%16%14%15%20%21%26%31%37%40%44%45%50%48%53%55%54%
Oley Valley School District4%3%3%5%3%5%5%8%10%16%19%18%20%23%24%26%28%27%
Reading School District65%62%64%67%63%64%76%70%78%80%92%91%90%89%94%100%100%96%93%
Schuylkill Valley School District7%7%10%11%10%11%16%16%21%22%18%19%19%21%20%24%29%32%32%
Tulpehocken Area School District13%14%15%16%16%16%20%23%28%29%29%31%34%37%39%38%40%37%36%
Twin Valley School District10%9%12%11%12%11%15%15%16%19%20%22%23%23%23%25%30%28%30%
Wilson School District18%16%16%15%17%15%20%21%24%24%29%31%33%38%41%47%48%47%46%
Wyomissing Area School District10%8%10%10%10%10%18%17%19%19%20%23%25%29%28%29%30%32%35%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics




Number of Students Eligible for Free/Reduced Price Lunch
2000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018
United States15,931,43116,049,20317,636,02617,827,74217,474,47718,054,32220,627,58520,219,49520,209,12921,676,85222,706,05223,544,47924,291,64625,226,25025,596,27425,397,45125,900,18626,113,604
Pennsylvania521,009510,121517,587528,011511,940516,075574,951556,645560,384591,250662,900686,641696,531720,937756,241786,304802,045747,349795,337
Berks County14,47113,97415,74015,85815,03416,03620,47320,31422,31823,63326,93027,44328,39728,72730,44532,14633,10131,86832,873
Berks County Regions
Central
Northeast
South
Southeast
West
Reading city
Berks County Peers
Chester County6,9777,2027,1887,9257,5707,4728,9939,3039,4449,86915,44417,68420,56923,18424,38418,87017,06315,15816,327
Lancaster County14,19614,64614,75915,53914,49614,80018,70819,04819,23520,49422,22023,43724,24426,46126,82430,02031,32730,82030,885
Lebanon County3,6223,5593,7523,8783,7523,8784,9514,9525,1865,5646,1286,2496,7127,4287,8768,0929,2078,8199,262
Lehigh County11,53013,33811,75314,29712,98614,29717,64019,95620,20820,77920,28424,46322,18622,39224,27121,67223,01426,49427,674
Montgomery County11,38111,10811,21211,43511,23011,23313,53114,25714,98416,05819,03320,72422,61824,65126,59429,51429,87630,96631,207
Schuylkill County5,9695,6445,6595,9465,5705,9466,4286,8316,5387,2087,8527,9098,0438,7388,9269,1119,2658,62310,055
School Districts
Antietam School District113118164193164193271313341350358396385443470495491612495
Boyertown Area School District5214856374806374807706538588929541,0361,1981,3241,4281,4541,6461,6141,591
Brandywine Heights Area School District182162164210164210167104146172318336322305360369412415425
Conrad Weiser Area School District290306222347222347490548594704710712771807926886773926906
Daniel Boone Area School District373334357361357361486443533487647565720755790878877747849
Exeter Township School District3684694094364094365295556086767437457139951,0471,0571,2321,1041,180
Fleetwood Area School District203236251272251272355391446467458521500495480730695751697
Governor Mifflin School District2612773584013584015846397418329669611,2561,3551,4631,5791,5411,5961,564
Hamburg Area School District259238240300240300537584634679787770836876857868904847892
Kutztown Area School District145167180181180181249249284306326278309342321321394383365
Muhlenberg School District3463574224704224706476868871,0641,2881,4181,5681,5761,7411,7181,8922,0232,036
Oley Valley School District77637410174101108170201305362323353399400426479444
Reading School District10,0699,56110,75310,84610,42110,84613,26612,52513,64714,24416,36116,48416,25415,60516,19617,15317,20816,77916,523
Schuylkill Valley School District137138192218192218316322432435369378373409395469584650656
Tulpehocken Area School District227248265273265273332379453455441481504544564531559526527
Twin Valley School District2982813753443753444955295716376837327717877988301,009951982
Wilson School District4263723763333763334594785375546476827288419011,0161,0261,0461,035
Wyomissing Area School District172142187189187189334313355354378425471554538558582616686

Source: National Center for Education Statistics
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INDICATORS TREND | BERKS COUNTY
Early Prenatal Care Increasing
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Children Living in Poverty Increasing
Children Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families Increasing
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Disengaged Youth Decreasing
Live Births to Teen Mothers Decreasing
Population by Age Not Applicable
Children with Elevated Blood Lead Levels Maintaining
Change in Population by Age and Gender Not Applicable
Change in Total Population by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Households by type Not Applicable
Foreign-Born Population Increasing
Seniors Living Alone Decreasing
Language Diversity Increasing
Unemployment Rate Decreasing
Change in Labor Force Decreasing
Employment to Population ratio Decreasing
Change in Jobs by Sector Not Applicable
Sector Share of Total Jobs Not Applicable
Average Salary by Sector Not Applicable
Change in Average Salary by Sector Not Applicable
People Entering/Leaving County/Region for Work Not Applicable
Public Assistance Maintaining
Spending for Local Governments Maintaining
Spending for Counties Maintaining
Spending for School Districts Maintaining
Prekindergarten Participation Increasing
Students Eligible for Free/Reduced Price Lunch Increasing
English Language Learners Increasing
Students Receiving Special Education Services Increasing
Per Student Spending Maintaining
High School Cohort Graduation Rate Increasing
Education Levels of Adults Not Applicable
Education Levels of Adults, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Brain Drain/Gain Maintaining
Plans of High School Graduates Not Applicable
Enrollment in Local Colleges Decreasing
Median Household Income Maintaining
Median Household Income by Household Type Not Applicable
Living Wage Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty Increasing
Working Poor Maintaining
People Receiving Federal Food Assistance Increasing
People Receiving Supplemental Security Income Increasing
Health Status Not Applicable
People Enrolled in Medicaid Managed Care Increasing
People Without Health Insurance Decreasing
Physically Inactive Adults Not Applicable
Adults Who are Overweight or Obese Not Applicable
Students in 7-12 Overweight or Obese Not Applicable
Cancer Incidence Decreasing
Students in K-6 Overweight or Obese Not Applicable
Prevalence of Mental Illness Maintaining
Vacant Housing Units Increasing
Homeownership Rates Decreasing
Cost of Homeownership Maintaining
Cost of Homeownership, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Cost of Rent Increasing
Cost of Rent, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Single-Family Home Sales Increasing
Median Single-Family Home Sale Price Maintaining
Tourism Spending Maintaining
Voter Registration Rate Decreasing
Voter Participation Rate Decreasing
Average Charitable Giving Maintaining
Contributions as a Percentage of Income Maintaining
Households With Internet Access Not Applicable
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Establishments Maintaining
Toxic Chemical Releases Decreasing
Violent Crimes Maintaining
Property Crimes Decreasing
Incarceration Rates Maintaining
Drug Abuse Offenses Increasing
Drug Abuse Arrests Increasing
Protection from Domestic Abuse Maintaining
Average Travel Time to Work Increasing
Crashes Involving Alcohol Decreasing
Households Without Vehicles Decreasing


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