Student Dining Services

Nourishing Cincinnati's Students Since 1898

Student Services: Feeding Children is a Work of Heart

Cincinnati Public Schools is proud to be the nation's first large school district to offer lunches to students, starting in 1898.

Nationally acclaimed for our commitment to student nutrition, our Student Dining Services Department has received the Champion of School Breakfast Award five times from the Ohio Department of Education. Our excellence extends to our summer meal program, honored with the Gold Turnip the Beet Award in 2023, Silver in 2022, and Bronze in 2021.

CPS continues to build on this tradition of excellence with a focus on innovation, equity, and student well-being. We have earned five Healthy Meals Incentives (HMI) Recognition Awards from Action for Healthy Kids and the USDA Food and Nutrition Service, celebrating our leadership in nutrition education, meal preparation, cultural diversity, school lunch makeovers, and innovation in school meals. We are also proud recipients of the Golden Gourd Award from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce for excellence in the Farm to Summer Challenge.

We proudly serve food that students know and love while exceeding USDA standards for health and quality. Guided by our Clean Label Initiative and participation in the Good Food Purchasing Program, we prioritize fresh, local and responsibly sourced ingredients. Our menus celebrate cultural diversity and creativity with globally inspired dishes such as Tamales with yuca and plantains, Pierogies and Tikka Masala. Every meal we serve fuels learning, growth, and connection, because good food is the foundation of great education.

Click Here to Download Our Printable Monthly Menus.

SchoolCafe — Leading in School Nutrition

Experience an interactive and convenient method of exploring the breakfast and lunch options available at your student's school. SchoolCafé doesn't just provide menu browsing; it offers a range of features:

Review images and detailed descriptions of all culinary offerings.
Access comprehensive nutritional information for well-informed choices.
Utilize menu filters to easily identify foods suitable for specific allergen needs.
Join the conversation by actively evaluating and rating different dishes.

Ready to get started? Head over to SchoolCafé.com or grab the mobile app for seamless access!

Meal Costs

Paid meals at Hyde Park and Kilgour are $1.75 and $2.00 at Walnut Hills./

Recognized For Excellence

Student Dining Services Excellence Awards

Proud to Partner With

Dietary, Cultural or Religious Food Restrictions Policy
Disclaimer

Dietary, Cultural or Religious Food Restrictions Policy

Cincinnati Public Schools believes it is our responsibility to serve students with respect and dignity. CPS is aware of cultures and religions that observe customs related to diet, and we know that some students have sensitivities to certain food products.

Disclaimer

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
fax:
(833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
email: Program.Intake@usda.gov

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.