Across Texas, nearly 5.4 million students qualify for free or reduced-price school meals through federal programs such as the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program. For many of these children, meals eaten at school are the only substantial meals they will receive during the day. School districts are critical players in implementing school food programs – yet some districts are doing better than others in providing breakfast, lunch, and after-school meals to students in need. With nearly 1.3 million food-insecure children in Texas, it is imperative that school districts do a much better job at ensuring our children are consistently getting nutritious meals.

CHILDREN AT RISK, in partnership with Kroger, is pleased to honor Aldine ISD and Houston ISD in our 2023 Food Rankings. These rankings evaluate how effectively districts across Texas provide meals to economically disadvantaged students by analyzing breakfast and lunch participation rates, as well as after-school meal programs offered in each district. Houston ISD and other area school districts are doing an excellent job at ensuring Texas’ students are getting nutritious meals throughout the day.

Among large school districts, Aldine ISD and Houston ISD lead the way. The top large school districts in the state had a student population made up of over 72% economically disadvantaged students, all of the top large districts had a strong lunch participation, and offered after school snacks, and supper options.

Key Facts:

· All 5,429,895 students in Texas were offered free meals during the 2021-2022 school year

· The top ranking districts all had over 64.2% of their student population participating in lunch

· Top 5 large public school districts: ALDINE ISD, HOUSTON ISD, DALLAS ISD, GARLAND ISD, ARLINGTON ISD

· The top 3 large school districts (at least 50,000 students and 60% economically disadvantaged) in the Texas School Food Rankings are Aldine ISD, Houston ISD, and Dallas ISD.

· District with the lowest lunch participation: KIPP SCHOOLS, with 45.5% of their total student population participating in lunch

· District with the lowest breakfast participation: CARROLLTON-FARMERS BRANCH, with 17.4% of their total student population participating in breakfast

· Roughly 68% of ranked districts participated in the CACFP Supper Program

Many school districts achieve high levels of student participation in their meal programs by offering a more varied menu and using alternative delivery methods. When participation is high, school nutrition departments can reach more students in need and take advantage of economies of scale to optimize their meal costs and further improve service.

CHILDREN AT RISK aims to highlight and learn from Texas’s top districts doing an excellent job of feeding our low-income students. These rankings are also an opportunity to raise awareness about best practices that can support all Texas school districts in ensuring that the health and wellbeing of our students is a top priority.

School food programs play a crucial role in reducing hunger and improving the health of children in Texas – and these programs are also linked to better academic performance. A better-nourished child is a better learner and participant in school, with less absenteeism and tardiness, and fewer visits to the school nurse.

2023 Kroger School Food Rankings

2023 Kroger School Food Rankings List

2023 Kroger School Food Rankings Methodology