EXPLORE
EXPLORE
Food and Nutrition Services team members are partners in education, contributing to a successful academic experience for students through an innovative, nutritious and cost efficient program that encourages a lifetime of good nutrition. The program adheres to the United States Department of Agriculture Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the USDA National School Breakfast and Lunch Programs.
Chesterfield County Public Schools uses the SchoolCafe web platform and app for all things related to school meals.
SchoolCafe helps families:
Important Note: SchoolCafé charges appear on bank statements as “Cybersoft Technologies, Houston.”
If you are adding a new card or experiencing a declined payment, please ensure the billing address entered in SchoolCafé matches your card’s billing information. You can review this under Payment Info → Payment Sources in your account. If issues continue after verifying your information, contact SchoolCafé support at 855-729-2328.
Families may apply for free or reduced-price school meals through the USDA National School Breakfast and Lunch Programs.
At schools covered by the community eligibility provision, all students receive free school meals. Families at those schools do not need to submit an application. Chesterfield County schools covered by the community eligibility provision are listed in the dropdown menu.
If your earnings are at or below federal income eligibility guidelines, you are encouraged to complete an application.
If you receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits or participate in other federal assistance programs such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, then all of your children who attend school automatically qualify for free school meals.
If you are eligible for unemployment compensation or the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, then you may also be eligible for free or reduced-price school meals.
All students at 43 schools are automatically eligible for free breakfasts and lunches under the USDA’s community eligibility provision. Families at these schools do not need to apply for free or reduced-price meals:
Chesterfield County Public Schools offers free after-school snacks and supper for students at 17 schools. Participating schools are located in areas where 50% of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals. After-school snacks and supper are served first come, first served. All food must be eaten on-site.
These elementary schools offer after-school food:
These middle schools offer after-school food:
These high schools offer after-school food:
Food and Nutrition Services offers a Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program at Bellwood, Bensley, Chalkley, Ettrick, Falling Creek, Harrowgate and Hopkins elementary schools.
They offer a fresh fruit and vegetable snack to students 3 days a week in school.
The goal of the Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program is to:
Snacks will be eaten in the classroom, along with fun and educational information led by school staff. Children will be encouraged to try the fruit or vegetable snack of the day, but they may choose to not participate if they do not like or cannot eat the fruit or vegetable offered.
Please encourage your child to participate in the snack, as this is a great way to show students healthy food choices that are both familiar and new!
The SchoolCafé makes it easy for families to pay online for meals. Beginning in the 2026-27 school year, credit card payments made through the mobile app will include the SchoolCafé processing fee of 3.99% + $0.25. For example, the fee for a $20 payment would be $1.05, bringing the total charge to $21.05. The amount will be displayed in SchoolCafé before an online payment is completed. Families can avoid the fee by paying with cash at the cafeteria register or depositing cash or a check into their student’s meal account through the school cafeteria at no charge.
Returned Checks
Food and Nutrition Services contracts with Envision Payment Solutions for services related to returned checks. A $50 fee is charged for each returned check in addition to the value of the check. For questions, call 855-832-5226.
Chesterfield County Public Schools provides nutritious breakfasts and lunches, offering milk, fruits, vegetables, proteins and grains and meeting strict limits on saturated fat and portion size. Nutrition is prioritized, and CCPS is meeting the challenges set forth in the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act. School lunches must meet federal standards that require
Here are some of the steps taken to make school breakfasts and lunches healthy and nutritious:
Beginning in the 2025-26 school year, Chesterfield County Public Schools will move to the SchoolCafe web platform and app for all things related to school meals. This powerful app replaces three apps previously used for viewing menus, paying for meals online and applying for free or reduced-price meals (MealViewer, MySchoolBucks and MySchoolApps).
Parents can use this link to the Food Allergy/Food modification Medical Statement or get one from their school’s nurse or cafeteria manager. This form must be completed and signed by a Licensed Healthcare Provider and returned to the school’s nurse. The school nurse will provide the statement to the cafeteria manager who will send it to the Food & Nutrition Dietitian to determine any meal accommodations.
At CCPS, the safety and well-being of students is our highest priority. We understand that some children have food allergies or special dietary needs, and we want to ensure every student has safe and nutritious meals available to them at school.
If your child requires a food allergy or medical accommodation in the cafeteria, here are the steps to take:
If you have any questions, need help filling out the form, or would like to discuss your child’s needs, please contact your school’s cafeteria manager or school nurse.
Yes. School meals are healthy and meet the requirements set by the USDA and the Government Accountability Office. Additionally, it is good practice to encourage your child to eat all the meal components, including fruits and vegetables, and to limit a la carte items for optimum nutrition.
No. Studies show that lunches from home are less nutritious, contain more snack foods and rarely include milk. School lunches offer high nutritional value at a low cost.
Yes. Contact the food service manager at your child’s school or write on your check “meals only.”
Yes. All snacks sold on school campuses must meet the UDSA Smart Snacks Nutrition Standards:
When a student cannot consume milk because of a medical condition, the federal program requires a statement from a recognized medical authority. Lactose-free milk is the only approved substitution. For other allergies, please contact the Food and Nutrition Services Department.
Yes. An application must be completed each year, and it can only be processed if it includes all the required information. One application listing all school-age children should be submitted for each household.
If your income is too high or the information requested on the application was incomplete, your application will be denied.
In accordance with federal civil rights law and USDA civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its agencies, offices, employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the state or local agency that administers the program or contact USDA through the Telecommunications Relay Service at 711 (voice and TTY). Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call 866-632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.