Metro provides breakfast and lunch options for students during the academic school year. Breakfast is served starting at 7:30am and lunch is served mid-day (staggered lunch periods between 10:55 - 11:50am). Our staff will work with the food service provider to ensure there are healthy options available every day. Students who need a vegetarian option should notify Mrs. Marshall (marshall.6@themetroschool.org) to ensure a vegetarian meal is ordered. Pork is not served.

Use the following link for the monthly Breakfast & Lunch Menu.

Meal Prices

• Students considered full pay: Breakfast is $2.00 and lunch is $4.25

• Students who qualify for reduced price: Breakfast is $0.30 and lunch is $0.40

• Students who qualify for free meals: Breakfast and lunch are provided at no cost

Payment Options

• Parents can check the balance owed for school meals on their child’s PowerSchool account. Payment can be made monthly or quarterly, based on the balance.

• Payment is not taken at the time school meals are served. Instead, parents can pay the balance on their child's account in one of three ways:

  • Cash payments can be made at the Metro front desk during school hours.

  • Payments by check (made out to Metro Schools) can be submitted in person or sent by mail to the attention of Kathy Fries.

  • Payment can be made by credit card using PaySchools. Click here to access the PaySchools portal. Use this link for instructions: Make Online Payments

Free/Reduced Payment Status

To determine if your family qualifies for free or reduced price meals, please complete the application below and submit to the front desk. A new form must be submitted by the start of each school year. This will allow qualifying students to access extra benefits like fee waivers for standardized tests and reduced student fees. It also allows Metro to receive appropriate funding for the school lunch program. Forms cannot be submitted at the end of the year to "retroactively" access benefits.

Form & Instructions

• 2024-25 Free/Reduced Lunch Application - Must be dated after July 1 to apply to the correct school year.

• Frequently Asked Questions & F/R Lunch Application instructions.

At Metro, we have set the following goals in an effort to enable students to establish good health and nutrition habits:

In our food service program, by:

• Encouraging students to increase their consumption of healthy foods during the school day.

• Providing opportunities for students to develop the knowledge and skills for consuming healthy foods.

With regard to physical activity, the district shall:

• Plan instruction in physical education and promote participation in physical activity outside the regular school day.

• Integrate physical activity when possible across the curricula and throughout the school day.

With regard to nutrition promotion, any foods and beverages marketed or provided to students during the school day will meet or exceed the USDA Smart Snacks in School Nutrition standards.
Additionally, the district shall:

• Encourage students to increase their consumption of healthful foods during the school day.

• Provide opportunities for students to develop the knowledge and skills for consuming healthy foods.

Visit BoardDocs for the district's full Wellness Policy.

Metro Schools announced its 2023-2024 program year policy for students unable to pay the full price of meals or milk served under the National School Lunch and School Breakfast, After School Care Snack or Special Milk Programs.  The school office has a copy of the policy, which may be reviewed by any interested party.

Determination of Eligibility

The Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines will be used to determine eligibility. Children from families whose annual income is at or below the federal guidelines are eligible for free and reduced-price meals or free milk if the school participates in the Special Milk Program. 

Application forms are distributed in a letter to parents/guardians. To apply for free and reduced-price benefits, households should complete an application and return it to the school. Additional copies are available at the front desk in each school. A complete application is required. Households which currently receive Special Nutrition Assistance Program Benefits (SNAP) or Ohio Works First (OWF) funds for a child must provide the child’s name, the SNAP or OWF case number and signature of an adult household member on the application. Households that do not receive SNAP or OWF funds must provide the names of all household members, the last four digits of the Social Security Number of the adult signing the application or state “none” if the adult does not have a Social Security Number, the amount and source of income received by each household member (state the monthly income) and the signature of an adult household member.  If any of this information is missing, the school cannot process the application.

Households will be notified of the approval or denial of benefits. Parents with questions regarding their determination can contact the school office for assistance.

 Free Health Care

Families with children eligible for school meals may be eligible for free health care coverage through Medicaid and/or Ohio’s Healthy Start & Healthy Families programs. These programs include coverage for doctor visits, immunizations, physicals, prescriptions, dental, vision, mental health, substance abuse and more. Anyone who has an Ohio Medicaid card is already receiving these services. Call 1-800-324-8680 for more information or to request an application or visit http://jfs.ohio.gov/ohp/consumers/familychild.stm.

 Use of Information

The information provided on the application is confidential and will only be used for the purpose to determine eligibility and may be verified at any time during the school year by school or other program officials. To discourage the possibility of misrepresentation, the application forms contain a statement above the space for signature certifying that all information furnished is true and correct. Applications are made in connection with the receipt of federal funds.  Schools or other officials may check the information on the application at any time during the school year. Deliberate misrepresentation of information may subject the applicant to prosecution under applicable state and federal laws.

 Foster Children

Foster children are categorically eligible for free meal benefits regardless of the household’s income. If a family has foster children living with them and wishes to apply for such meals or milk for them, contact the school for more information.

The Ohio Department of Education is sponsoring the Summer Food Service Program again this year, providing children with free, healthy meals during the school break. The program ensures children 18 and younger continue to receive nutritious meals during the months they do not have access to school breakfast or lunch.

Participation is simple and no sign-up is required. To learn about meal times and locations, call 1-866-3-HUNGRY (1-866-348-6479) or visit education.ohio.gov/KidsEat.

Columbus Parks & Recreation

The City of Columbus offers free summer meal service at many neighborhood recreation centers. Visit their website to find participating locations this year!

New in 2024! The Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Program provides grocery benefits to low-income families with school-aged children when schools are closed for the summer. Summer EBT benefits will either be loaded to a household’s Ohio Direction Card or a benefit card will be sent in the mail addressed to each eligible child.

Metro families qualifying for the benefit will be notified by email. Please see the Summer EBT flyer linked here for more details.