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.
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.
In 2020, 53% of students in Berks County were eligible for a free or reduced price lunch, similar to the statewide rate of 54, and below Lehigh. All areas have experienced an increase since 2006. Berks' rate increased by 21 percentage points, similar to the increases in Lancaster, Lebanon and Lehigh. Chester had the smallest increase, at 14 percentage points.
None.
There may be additional research available on this topic. Click on Reports and Resources to learn more.
| 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | 35% | 35% | 35% | 36% | 39% | 39% | 41% | 43% | 43% | 48% | 50% | 51% | 53% | 54% | 54% |
| Berks County | 32% | 32% | 34% | 37% | 39% | 40% | 41% | 43% | 44% | 48% | 47% | 52% | 51% | 52% | 53% |
| Berks County Regions | |||||||||||||||
| Central | |||||||||||||||
| Northeast | |||||||||||||||
| South | |||||||||||||||
| Southeast | |||||||||||||||
| West | |||||||||||||||
| Reading city | |||||||||||||||
| Berks County Peers | |||||||||||||||
| Chester County | 14% | 15% | 15% | 16% | 17% | 17% | 18% | 20% | 20% | 23% | 24% | 25% | 26% | 26% | 28% |
| Lancaster County | 27% | 28% | 29% | 32% | 34% | 36% | 37% | 40% | 41% | 44% | 47% | 46% | 47% | 48% | 48% |
| Lebanon County | 27% | 27% | 28% | 30% | 34% | 35% | 37% | 39% | 41% | 41% | 48% | 47% | 51% | 50% | 51% |
| Lehigh County | 35% | 36% | 37% | 39% | 41% | 43% | 44% | 48% | 49% | 52% | 57% | 56% | 57% | 59% | 61% |
| Montgomery County | 15% | 15% | 16% | 17% | 19% | 20% | 21% | 23% | 25% | 28% | 29% | 31% | 32% | 32% | 33% |
| Schuylkill County | 32% | 33% | 34% | 36% | 40% | 41% | 41% | 44% | 46% | 48% | 50% | 46% | 56% | 53% | 53% |
| 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | 1,278,683 | 1,290,461 | 1,287,674 | 1,326,988 | 1,398,271 | 1,419,916 | 1,466,434 | 1,554,503 | 776,334 | 850,937 | 897,429 | 899,670 | 923,060 | 937,790 | 946,770 |
| Berks County | 22,310 | 22,397 | 24,488 | 25,996 | 27,533 | 28,436 | 29,209 | 30,476 | 31,306 | 33,418 | 34,341 | 35,103 | 35,755 | 36,273 | 36,871 |
| Berks County Regions | |||||||||||||||
| Central | |||||||||||||||
| Northeast | |||||||||||||||
| South | |||||||||||||||
| Southeast | |||||||||||||||
| West | |||||||||||||||
| Reading city | |||||||||||||||
| Berks County Peers | |||||||||||||||
| Chester County | 10,307 | 10,696 | 11,008 | 12,295 | 13,015 | 13,547 | 14,362 | 15,939 | 16,180 | 17,836 | 17,720 | 17,818 | 18,561 | 18,674 | 20,420 |
| Lancaster County | 19,359 | 20,703 | 21,185 | 22,612 | 24,286 | 25,621 | 26,219 | 27,757 | 28,829 | 29,897 | 30,621 | 32,398 | 32,787 | 33,452 | 33,093 |
| Lebanon County | 5,256 | 5,188 | 5,411 | 5,737 | 6,596 | 6,838 | 7,132 | 7,662 | 8,129 | 8,450 | 9,553 | 9,598 | 9,264 | 10,508 | 10,435 |
| Lehigh County | 18,149 | 19,829 | 21,009 | 21,530 | 21,961 | 23,556 | 23,522 | 25,045 | 26,269 | 28,253 | 31,964 | 31,641 | 34,068 | 35,074 | 39,144 |
| Montgomery County | 14,830 | 15,309 | 16,216 | 17,302 | 19,082 | 20,946 | 22,680 | 24,500 | 27,363 | 30,076 | 31,315 | 34,461 | 35,132 | 36,085 | 37,058 |
| Schuylkill County | 6,745 | 6,906 | 7,106 | 7,455 | 8,070 | 8,189 | 8,204 | 8,720 | 9,102 | 9,366 | 9,971 | 9,991 | 11,504 | 10,156 | 10,078 |
| INDICATORS | TREND | BERKS COUNTY |
|---|---|
| Students Eligible for Free/Reduced Price Lunch |  Increasing |
| Prekindergarten Participation | 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 |
Children & Youth
Demographics
Economy
Education
Financial Self-Sufficiency
Health
Housing
Living
Public Safety
Transportation