In 2015-2016, Gaston County Schools offered universal free breakfast and lunch for all students attending 19 qualifying schools. These schools qualify for this program as a part of the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) of the USDA’s Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010.

Enjoying nutritious meals is an important part of the school day. Gaston County Schools is proud of its school nutrition program and the hundreds of employees who work each day to prepare well-balanced meals for students. Here is a look at school nutrition information for the 2022-2023 academic year.

Gaston County Schools will make reasonable efforts to maintain the anonymity of students participating in the free or reduced price meal program. Children who receive free or reduced price meal benefits are treated the same as children who pay full price for their meals.

The student body at the schools served by Gaston County Schools is 50.8% White, 24.2% Black, 1.5% Asian or Asian/Pacific Islander, 17.5% Hispanic/Latino, 0.2% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.1% Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander. In addition, 5.7% of students are two or more races, and 0% have not specified their race or ethnicity.