Food Service
Our mission is to provide all Portland Public Schools students with nutritionally balanced, nourishing meals that are thoughtfully sourced and made with love. We do this to fuel students’ learning, build lifelong habits of health, and strengthen our community. As the largest school district in Maine, we are driven to elevate the role of food in public education so that all students can experience a model of sustainable, equitable food systems. Thanks to a new Maine state law, school meals for all students are free, regardless of their family's income. As the largest school district in Maine, we are driven to elevate the role of food in public education so that all students can experience a model of sustainable, equitable food systems. We serve approximately 6,500 students in 16 of our schools – three high schools, three middle schools and 10 elementary schools.
Free and Reduced Meals
Filling out your family’s Household Income Data Form will help our school district receive the right amount of federal education funding—school meal reimbursements.
Although school meals for all students are free regardless of family income, the information from the Household Income Data Form helps us maximize the state revenue our school district receives.
The Portland Public Schools uses the information from the form to get a sense of our community's needs and so we can maximize federal reimbursements. Completing the form will also make sure our school district gets the right amount of federal education funding. The family income data not only helps us receive school meal reimbursements, but also funding for Title I programs, funding and resources for after-school programs, funding provided to schools from the Maine State Legislature for essential programs and services at school, funding for special education, teacher loan forgiveness and more!
Our Goal
The PPS Food Service Department, while an important part of the school system, has a goal of operating as a self-sustaining organization. Our goal is to maintain the program from revenues for meals sold and government reimbursements, without requesting money from the school budget.
Our Vision
Our vision is that the cafeteria becomes a valued hub for nourishment, experiential learning and community connection.