We are proud to share that Pawtucket Public Schools participates in the USDA’s Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), which ensures that all students across our district automatically receive free breakfast and lunch every day. This eliminates financial barriers, reduces stigma, and guarantees that every child has access to nutritious meals that fuel learning.
According to our most recent Enrollment Census (2025), Pawtucket Public Schools serves 7,588 students, with over 5,500 students qualifying for free meals and an additional 127 qualifying for reduced-price meals.
These figures reflect both the economic realities many families face and the district’s commitment to removing hunger as an obstacle to achievement.
Why Access to Nutrition Matters
National, peer-reviewed research has repeatedly shown that food insecurity is directly tied to academic and behavioral outcomes:
- Students experiencing food insecurity show lower reading and math scores and are more likely to be absent from school (Jyoti, Frongillo & Jones, Journal of School Health, 2005).
- Food-insecure children are twice as likely to repeat a grade and demonstrate greater challenges with focus and classroom behavior (Alaimo, Olson & Frongillo, Pediatrics, 2001).
- Studies also link school meal participation to improved concentration, fewer nurse visits, and higher attendance (Murphy et al., Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 1998)
These findings underscore the importance of CEP and our local meal-support programs in maintaining student attendance, engagement, and academic growth.
Pawtucket’s Comprehensive Supports
Beyond CEP, Pawtucket is proud to provide a coordinated network of wraparound supports designed to address food insecurity and broader family needs. Some of these programs include, but are not limited to:
- School Social Workers and Principals partner with families to connect them to food, clothing, housing, and counseling resources.
- Homeless Education Services offer targeted assistance for families identified under the McKinney-Vento Act.
- The Child Opportunity Zone (COZ) and 21st-Century After-School Programs provide academic enrichment, family engagement opportunities, and after-school meals to extend learning and nutrition beyond the school day.
- Partnerships with Pawtucket Backpackers, The Elisha Project, Feed RI, the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, and local faith-based organizations ensure that weekend and holiday meal gaps are filled. These are just some, but not all, of the community partnerships that help us meet families’ needs year-round.
Our Commitment
The Pawtucket School Department remains committed to ensuring that no child goes hungry and that every student has the opportunity to thrive academically and socially. We will continue working closely with community partners to sustain these programs and strengthen family supports across our district.
Families in need of assistance are encouraged to contact their child’s school principal or school social worker, who can connect them with the appropriate programs and services.