How many public-school students qualify for free meals, by state

50.6% of students in the U.S. public schools that reported a 2024-25 count were eligible for free meals, the usual federal measure of school poverty. The share was highest in New Mexico (88.9%) and lowest in New Hampshire (19.5%). 10 state systems reported too few school counts to measure: Arizona, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia.

NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25 lunch program file · enrollment-weighted, schools open that year · this page first published · data checked · method

U.S., reporting schools50.6%41 states measured
Highest need88.9%New Mexico
Lowest need19.5%New Hampshire
Students eligible for free meals by stateAK 42%; AL 54%; AR 54%; CA 55%; CO 40%; CT 39%; FL 42%; GA 63%; HI 37%; IA 35%; ID 34%; IN 42%; KS 43%; KY 55%; LA 61%; MD 46%; ME 39%; MI 46%; MN 34%; MO 43%; MS 66%; MT 50%; NC 76%; ND 26%; NE 26%; NH 20%; NJ 38%; NM 89%; NV 85%; NY 55%; OR 68%; PA 53%; RI 45%; SD 31%; TX 58%; UT 23%; VA 55%; VT 39%; WA 39%; WI 36%; WY 36%AK: 42%AK42%ME: 39%ME39%WI: 36%WI36%VT: 39%VT39%NH: 20%NH20%WA: 39%WA39%ID: 34%ID34%MT: 50%MT50%ND: 26%ND26%MN: 34%MN34%ILMI: 46%MI46%NY: 55%NY55%MAOR: 68%OR68%NV: 85%NV85%WY: 36%WY36%SD: 31%SD31%IA: 35%IA35%IN: 42%IN42%OHPA: 53%PA53%NJ: 38%NJ38%CT: 39%CT39%RI: 45%RI45%CA: 55%CA55%UT: 23%UT23%CO: 40%CO40%NE: 26%NE26%MO: 43%MO43%KY: 55%KY55%WVVA: 55%VA55%MD: 46%MD46%DEAZNM: 89%NM89%KS: 43%KS43%AR: 54%AR54%TNNC: 76%NC76%SCDCOKLA: 61%LA61%MS: 66%MS66%AL: 54%AL54%GA: 63%GA63%HI: 37%HI37%TX: 58%TX58%FL: 42%FL42%
Students eligible for free meals by stateAK 42%; AL 54%; AR 54%; CA 55%; CO 40%; CT 39%; FL 42%; GA 63%; HI 37%; IA 35%; ID 34%; IN 42%; KS 43%; KY 55%; LA 61%; MD 46%; ME 39%; MI 46%; MN 34%; MO 43%; MS 66%; MT 50%; NC 76%; ND 26%; NE 26%; NH 20%; NJ 38%; NM 89%; NV 85%; NY 55%; OR 68%; PA 53%; RI 45%; SD 31%; TX 58%; UT 23%; VA 55%; VT 39%; WA 39%; WI 36%; WY 36%AK: 42%AK42%ME: 39%ME39%WI: 36%WI36%VT: 39%VT39%NH: 20%NH20%WA: 39%WA39%ID: 34%ID34%MT: 50%MT50%ND: 26%ND26%MN: 34%MN34%ILMI: 46%MI46%NY: 55%NY55%MAOR: 68%OR68%NV: 85%NV85%WY: 36%WY36%SD: 31%SD31%IA: 35%IA35%IN: 42%IN42%OHPA: 53%PA53%NJ: 38%NJ38%CT: 39%CT39%RI: 45%RI45%CA: 55%CA55%UT: 23%UT23%CO: 40%CO40%NE: 26%NE26%MO: 43%MO43%KY: 55%KY55%WVVA: 55%VA55%MD: 46%MD46%DEAZNM: 89%NM89%KS: 43%KS43%AR: 54%AR54%TNNC: 76%NC76%SCDCOKLA: 61%LA61%MS: 66%MS66%AL: 54%AL54%GA: 63%GA63%HI: 37%HI37%TX: 58%TX58%FL: 42%FL42%
Students eligible for free meals by stateAK 42%; AL 54%; AR 54%; CA 55%; CO 40%; CT 39%; FL 42%; GA 63%; HI 37%; IA 35%; ID 34%; IN 42%; KS 43%; KY 55%; LA 61%; MD 46%; ME 39%; MI 46%; MN 34%; MO 43%; MS 66%; MT 50%; NC 76%; ND 26%; NE 26%; NH 20%; NJ 38%; NM 89%; NV 85%; NY 55%; OR 68%; PA 53%; RI 45%; SD 31%; TX 58%; UT 23%; VA 55%; VT 39%; WA 39%; WI 36%; WY 36%AK: 42%AKME: 39%MEWI: 36%WIVT: 39%VTNH: 20%NHWA: 39%WAID: 34%IDMT: 50%MTND: 26%NDMN: 34%MNILMI: 46%MINY: 55%NYMAOR: 68%ORNV: 85%NVWY: 36%WYSD: 31%SDIA: 35%IAIN: 42%INOHPA: 53%PANJ: 38%NJCT: 39%CTRI: 45%RICA: 55%CAUT: 23%UTCO: 40%CONE: 26%NEMO: 43%MOKY: 55%KYWVVA: 55%VAMD: 46%MDDEAZNM: 89%NMKS: 43%KSAR: 54%ARTNNC: 76%NCSCDCOKLA: 61%LAMS: 66%MSAL: 54%ALGA: 63%GAHI: 37%HITX: 58%TXFL: 42%FL
Students eligible for free meals by stateAK 42%; AL 54%; AR 54%; CA 55%; CO 40%; CT 39%; FL 42%; GA 63%; HI 37%; IA 35%; ID 34%; IN 42%; KS 43%; KY 55%; LA 61%; MD 46%; ME 39%; MI 46%; MN 34%; MO 43%; MS 66%; MT 50%; NC 76%; ND 26%; NE 26%; NH 20%; NJ 38%; NM 89%; NV 85%; NY 55%; OR 68%; PA 53%; RI 45%; SD 31%; TX 58%; UT 23%; VA 55%; VT 39%; WA 39%; WI 36%; WY 36%AK: 42%AKME: 39%MEWI: 36%WIVT: 39%VTNH: 20%NHWA: 39%WAID: 34%IDMT: 50%MTND: 26%NDMN: 34%MNILMI: 46%MINY: 55%NYMAOR: 68%ORNV: 85%NVWY: 36%WYSD: 31%SDIA: 35%IAIN: 42%INOHPA: 53%PANJ: 38%NJCT: 39%CTRI: 45%RICA: 55%CAUT: 23%UTCO: 40%CONE: 26%NEMO: 43%MOKY: 55%KYWVVA: 55%VAMD: 46%MDDEAZNM: 89%NMKS: 43%KSAR: 54%ARTNNC: 76%NCSCDCOKLA: 61%LAMS: 66%MSAL: 54%ALGA: 63%GAHI: 37%HITX: 58%TXFL: 42%FL

Students eligible for free meals

  • 19.5% to under 35.8%
  • 35.8% to under 40.4%
  • 40.4% to under 46.1%
  • 46.1% to under 55.3%
  • 55.3% and up

Not measured (fewer than half of open schools report a 2024-25 count): Arizona, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25: free and reduced-price lunch file and membership.

Highest need: the top ten

Students eligible for free meals, highest ten statesNew Mexico 88.9%; Nevada 84.6%; North Carolina 75.8%; Oregon 68.2%; Mississippi 65.9%; Georgia 63.4%; Louisiana 60.6%; Texas 57.9%; Kentucky 55.3%; New York 55.1%; U.S., reporting schools 50.6%.0255075100New Mexico88.9%Nevada84.6%North Carolina75.8%Oregon68.2%Mississippi65.9%Georgia63.4%Louisiana60.6%Texas57.9%Kentucky55.3%New York55.1%U.S., reporting schools 50.6%
Students eligible for free meals, highest ten statesNew Mexico 88.9%; Nevada 84.6%; North Carolina 75.8%; Oregon 68.2%; Mississippi 65.9%; Georgia 63.4%; Louisiana 60.6%; Texas 57.9%; Kentucky 55.3%; New York 55.1%; U.S., reporting schools 50.6%.0255075100New Mexico88.9%Nevada84.6%North Carolina75.8%Oregon68.2%Mississippi65.9%Georgia63.4%Louisiana60.6%Texas57.9%Kentucky55.3%New York55.1%U.S., reporting schools 50.6%
Students eligible for free meals, highest ten statesNew Mexico 88.9%; Nevada 84.6%; North Carolina 75.8%; Oregon 68.2%; Mississippi 65.9%; Georgia 63.4%; Louisiana 60.6%; Texas 57.9%; Kentucky 55.3%; New York 55.1%; U.S., reporting schools 50.6%.050100New Mexico88.9%Nevada84.6%North Carolina75.8%Oregon68.2%Mississippi65.9%Georgia63.4%Louisiana60.6%Texas57.9%Kentucky55.3%New York55.1%U.S., reporting schools 50.6%
Students eligible for free meals, highest ten statesNew Mexico 88.9%; Nevada 84.6%; North Carolina 75.8%; Oregon 68.2%; Mississippi 65.9%; Georgia 63.4%; Louisiana 60.6%; Texas 57.9%; Kentucky 55.3%; New York 55.1%; U.S., reporting schools 50.6%.050100New Mexico88.9%Nevada84.6%North Carolina75.8%Oregon68.2%Mississippi65.9%Georgia63.4%Louisiana60.6%Texas57.9%Kentucky55.3%New York55.1%U.S., reporting schools 50.6%

Lowest need: the bottom ten

Students eligible for free meals, lowest ten statesNew Hampshire 19.5%; Utah 23.1%; North Dakota 25.5%; Nebraska 26.4%; South Dakota 30.8%; Minnesota 33.5%; Idaho 34.3%; Iowa 35.1%; Wyoming 35.8%; Wisconsin 36.4%; U.S., reporting schools 50.6%.0204060New Hampshire19.5%Utah23.1%North Dakota25.5%Nebraska26.4%South Dakota30.8%Minnesota33.5%Idaho34.3%Iowa35.1%Wyoming35.8%Wisconsin36.4%U.S., reporting schools 50.6%
Students eligible for free meals, lowest ten statesNew Hampshire 19.5%; Utah 23.1%; North Dakota 25.5%; Nebraska 26.4%; South Dakota 30.8%; Minnesota 33.5%; Idaho 34.3%; Iowa 35.1%; Wyoming 35.8%; Wisconsin 36.4%; U.S., reporting schools 50.6%.0204060New Hampshire19.5%Utah23.1%North Dakota25.5%Nebraska26.4%South Dakota30.8%Minnesota33.5%Idaho34.3%Iowa35.1%Wyoming35.8%Wisconsin36.4%U.S., reporting schools 50.6%
Students eligible for free meals, lowest ten statesNew Hampshire 19.5%; Utah 23.1%; North Dakota 25.5%; Nebraska 26.4%; South Dakota 30.8%; Minnesota 33.5%; Idaho 34.3%; Iowa 35.1%; Wyoming 35.8%; Wisconsin 36.4%; U.S., reporting schools 50.6%.0204060New Hampshire19.5%Utah23.1%North Dakota25.5%Nebraska26.4%South Dakota30.8%Minnesota33.5%Idaho34.3%Iowa35.1%Wyoming35.8%Wisconsin36.4%U.S., reporting schools 50.6%
Students eligible for free meals, lowest ten statesNew Hampshire 19.5%; Utah 23.1%; North Dakota 25.5%; Nebraska 26.4%; South Dakota 30.8%; Minnesota 33.5%; Idaho 34.3%; Iowa 35.1%; Wyoming 35.8%; Wisconsin 36.4%; U.S., reporting schools 50.6%.0204060New Hampshire19.5%Utah23.1%North Dakota25.5%Nebraska26.4%South Dakota30.8%Minnesota33.5%Idaho34.3%Iowa35.1%Wyoming35.8%Wisconsin36.4%U.S., reporting schools 50.6%

The question and the method

What share of US public-school students are eligible for free meals, the standard federal proxy for school poverty, and how much does it differ by state? Across the 41 state systems that report school-level counts, where is economic need highest and lowest?

Free-meal eligible students over enrollment in each school's 2024-25 CCD lunch program record, weighted by enrollment over the state's reporting schools. A state is measured when at least half of its open schools (and at least 20) report a count.

Limits. Free-meal eligibility is an income threshold, not a poverty rate, and it misses families just above the cutoff. Schools and districts using the Community Eligibility Provision serve free meals to every student and often stop collecting individual applications; several states then report no school-level counts, and they are left out here rather than shown as zero. The figure indicates economic need, not school quality.

Every state

All 41 as a table
StateRankStudents eligible for free mealsSchools reporting
New Mexico188.9%805
Nevada284.6%656
North Carolina375.8%2,534
Oregon468.2%1,014
Mississippi565.9%825
Georgia663.4%2,257
Louisiana760.6%1,275
Texas857.9%8,355
Kentucky955.3%1,339
New York1055.1%4,660
Virginia1154.8%1,672
California1254.5%9,765
Arkansas1354.4%1,025
Alabama1453.5%1,346
Pennsylvania1552.6%2,335
Montana1650.4%694
Maryland1746.1%1,361
Michigan1845.7%3,272
Rhode Island1945.2%301
Missouri2042.7%2,252
Kansas2142.5%1,274
Florida2242.2%3,786
Alaska2341.8%314
Indiana2441.7%1,800
Colorado2540.4%1,745
Washington2639.3%2,331
Vermont2738.8%283
Connecticut2838.6%983
Maine2938.5%546
New Jersey3038.0%2,423
Hawaii3137.2%295
Wisconsin3236.4%2,070
Wyoming3335.8%291
Iowa3435.1%1,275
Idaho3534.3%655
Minnesota3633.5%2,183
South Dakota3730.8%578
Nebraska3826.4%760
North Dakota3925.5%451
Utah4023.1%1,022
New Hampshire4119.5%480

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25: free and reduced-price lunch file and membership.

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Sources

Source: NCES Common Core of Data Free and reduced-price lunch eligibility · 2024-25

Compiled from official source data by .