As summer comes to an end with the first day of school on Wednesday, Aug. 27, the Renton School District has announced that free breakfast and lunch meals will continue to be available to most students for the 2025-2026 school year.

While all students from most Renton schools will be able to eat school breakfast and lunch at no cost, students at Risdon Middle School, Hazen High School and the H.O.M.E. program are exempt from the free meal program. According to the district, this is due to “the federal Community Eligibility Provision grant formula left our district unable to include students at those schools” and that the three schools do not qualify for the program. The district still encourages Risdon, Hazen and H.O.M.E. families to complete a free/reduced meal application to receive free meals at school.

In order for the district to be able to apply for next year’s program, all Renton School District families are also encouraged to complete the Child Nutrition and Education Benefit form. The district says that this will also “help students and families receive important resources like: before and after school academic and enrichment programs; resources for classrooms; guidance and college counselors; health and wellness services, and more.”

To complete the form, visit rentonschools.us/departments/nutrition-services-warehouse/meal-applications, which can be emailed to RSD.mealform@rentonschools.us or dropped off the child’s school.