Breakfast Prices

• Student $1.40 (Elementary, Middle, High) 
• School Staff and Guest - A La Carte pricing

  • Entrée ($ 1.25)

  • Fruit or Fruit Juice ($ .65)

  • Milk ($ .65) or Iced Tea ($ 1.00)

• There is no charge for students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals (the 40 cents charge for reduced-price meals has been waived).    

Lunch Prices 

• Elementary Student $2.90 
• Middle and High Student $3.00
• School Staff and Guest - A La Carte Pricing

  • Entrée ($ 2.75)

  • Fruits ($ .65 each)

  • Vegetables ($ .65 each)

  • Beverages – Milk ($ .65), Iced Tea ($ 1.00), Bottled Water ($ .75)

  • Premium - Entree Salad or Yogurt Parfait - ($3.75)

• There is no charge for students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals (the 40 cents charge for reduced-price meals has been waived).    

At lunch, all students may select an entrée, up to 2 vegetables, 2 fruits, and milk as their meal. Students must select a minimum of 3 items, with one of those items being a fruit or vegetable. At breakfast, students may select a main dish along with one milk and 2 fruits. A fruit or juice must be selected.

Cash and checks are accepted at the school. If you wish to pay by bank draft, debit card, or credit card, you may utilize LINQ Connect.

Yes, download the LINQ Connect app on your phone and follow the instructions to limit the purchases that your student makes or contact the School Cafeteria Manager, and they can do this for you at your request. To view instructions on how to opt out, click this link.

LINQ Connect is an internet-based service which allows you to place money in your child's account Visit your app store and find “LINQ Connect” available in the Google Play Store now and the Apple store available soon to download the new app and enjoy these new features. Just log in with your existing username and password. If you use a browser, visit LINQConnect.com to log in. If you don’t use our online meal payments portal, LINQ Connect allows you to set up one time or recurring payments for your student’s meal. You can also view previous transactions, set spending limits, transfer funds between students, set low-balance notifications and more. It’s an easy way to manage meal payments without the hassle of sending money. The Student ID number can be obtained by contacting your school's Cafeteria Manager or the School Nutrition offices at (704) 836-9110.

Absolutely! It will be easier for you, your child, and the cafeteria staff if you pre-pay for your child's meals. You may place any amount on your child's meal account. https://family.titank12.com is the quickest way to ensure your child has adequate funds on the meal account.

Elementary students, grades K – 5, can charge up to $13.50 in meal purchases. Middle school students can charge up to $5.60 in meal purchases. High school students are not allowed to charge for meals. Extra items and a la carte purchases cannot be charged. Students who have exceeded the charge limits may not purchase extra items.

Yes. The federal guidelines require a new application each year for all students. However, Gaston County Schools will automatically qualify (direct certification) children that receive benefits from the Department of Social Services for TANF, or for the Food and Nutrition Services (Food Stamp) programs. Students who qualify for free meals through direct certification will not have to complete an application.

We are unable to receive applications by phone or fax. All applications must be on an original official form, which can be obtained from the School Office, School Cafeteria Manager, or the School Nutrition Center in Lowell, NC. Completed applications can be turned in at school, or mailed or hand delivered to the School Nutrition Center located at 500 Reid Street, Lowell, NC 28098. Also, you may apply online at: https://family.titank12.com/application/new?identifier=AEPULG.

Yes, you may apply for free or reduced price meals any time during the school year. If you are not eligible now, but have an increased household size, a decrease in household income, become unemployed, or start receiving DSS benefits for your child(ren), you may re-submit an application at that time.

No, only one application is needed per household. However, you must include all of the members of your household, including the children that attend Gaston County Schools, on the application. The only exception is that foster children are considered a household of one (1), and a separate free and reduced meal application must be submitted for each of them.

There are 45 schools that qualify for the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program.  All students at schools involved in the CEP program receive meals free-of-charge.  Students who attend one of the following schools do not have to pay for breakfast and lunch and do not have to fill out an application for free or reduced-price meals. View the list of schools here.

No, students attending CEP schools do not need to submit a free and reduced meals application. However, if they have siblings attending schools that are not qualified for CEP, and their siblings do not qualify for free meals by means of direct certification, then a free and reduced meals application is required to determine those students’ eligibility for meal benefits.

You may obtain a Diet Order form from the Cafeteria Manager at your school, the School Nurse, the website at www.gaston.k12.nc.us or by calling (704) 836-9110. Menu adjustments are made only for diagnosed medical conditions. We are unable to honor personal food preferences. We do, however, offer a variety of additional menu choices and a la carte items to accommodate individual likes and dislikes. 

Nutritional values for all items served in the school cafeterias can be found on the School Nutrition page of the Gaston County Schools website, or you may obtain a copy of the nutritional analysis by calling the School Nutrition Office at (704) 836-9110.

Menus are posted online at https://linqconnect.com/public/menu/AEPULG?buildingId=76f67ff7-8175-ec11-ae93-b3fe4dec36ee