What does this measure?
The number of students eligible for free or reduced price lunch as a percentage of total K-12 enrollment. Students are eligible for free lunch if their family's income is at or below 130% of the federal poverty threshold and for reduced price lunch if income is 130-185% of that threshold.
Why is this important?
This measure not only shows the proportion of low-income students and families in an area, but is also an indication of the potential challenges facing schools as they work to educate children who have fewer resources.
How does our county compare?
In 2024, 55% of students in Lancaster County were eligible for a free or reduced-price lunch, below the statewide rate of 63%.
Among comparison counties, Lancaster's rate was similar to Lebanon at 56%, below Berks and Dauphin, and above Chester, Cumberland and York.
Notes about the data
Due to administrative changes during the pandemic aimed at easing access to food, data is not available for some counties for 2022.
| 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | 35% | 35% | 35% | 36% | 39% | 39% | 41% | 43% | 43% | 48% | 50% | 51% | 53% | 54% | 54% | 66% | 22% | 60% | 63% |
| Lancaster County | 27% | 28% | 29% | 32% | 34% | 36% | 37% | 40% | 41% | 44% | 47% | 46% | 47% | 48% | 48% | 49% | 52% | 55% | |
| Berks County | 32% | 32% | 34% | 37% | 39% | 40% | 41% | 43% | 44% | 48% | 47% | 52% | 51% | 52% | 53% | 84% | 80% | 58% | 62% |
| Chester County | 14% | 15% | 15% | 16% | 17% | 17% | 18% | 20% | 20% | 23% | 24% | 25% | 26% | 26% | 28% | 28% | 34% | 36% | |
| Cumberland County | 16% | 17% | 18% | 19% | 22% | 22% | 23% | 25% | 25% | 27% | 28% | 29% | 30% | 31% | 31% | 26% | 38% | 41% | |
| Dauphin County | 37% | 38% | 38% | 41% | 41% | 41% | 43% | 45% | 46% | 52% | 52% | 53% | 58% | 59% | 59% | 47% | 24% | 64% | 68% |
| Lebanon County | 27% | 27% | 28% | 30% | 34% | 35% | 37% | 39% | 41% | 41% | 48% | 47% | 51% | 50% | 51% | 100% | 54% | 56% | |
| York County | 25% | 26% | 27% | 29% | 32% | 32% | 35% | 37% | 38% | 41% | 43% | 44% | 44% | 44% | 45% | 99% | 48% | 52% |
| 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | 1,278,683 | 1,290,461 | 1,287,674 | 1,326,988 | 1,398,271 | 1,419,916 | 1,466,434 | 1,554,503 | 776,334 | 850,937 | 897,429 | 899,670 | 923,060 | 937,790 | 946,770 | 98,616 | 1,569 | 1,006,531 | 1,049,980 |
| Lancaster County | 19,359 | 20,703 | 21,185 | 22,612 | 24,286 | 25,621 | 26,219 | 27,757 | 28,829 | 29,897 | 30,621 | 32,398 | 32,787 | 33,452 | 33,093 | 2,720 | 33,468 | 35,640 | |
| Berks County | 22,310 | 22,397 | 24,488 | 25,996 | 27,533 | 28,436 | 29,209 | 30,476 | 31,306 | 33,418 | 34,341 | 35,103 | 35,755 | 36,273 | 36,871 | 316 | 215 | 39,720 | 41,265 |
| Chester County | 10,307 | 10,696 | 11,008 | 12,295 | 13,015 | 13,547 | 14,362 | 15,939 | 16,180 | 17,836 | 17,720 | 17,818 | 18,561 | 18,674 | 20,420 | 1,619 | 23,533 | 24,768 | |
| Cumberland County | 4,559 | 4,936 | 5,238 | 5,750 | 6,495 | 6,561 | 7,086 | 7,661 | 7,808 | 8,238 | 8,543 | 9,000 | 9,394 | 9,788 | 10,122 | 496 | 12,288 | 13,646 | |
| Dauphin County | 15,330 | 15,524 | 15,493 | 16,406 | 16,589 | 16,332 | 16,874 | 17,423 | 17,712 | 19,248 | 19,437 | 19,159 | 22,091 | 22,399 | 22,753 | 9,832 | 176 | 24,532 | 25,720 |
| Lebanon County | 5,256 | 5,188 | 5,411 | 5,737 | 6,596 | 6,838 | 7,132 | 7,662 | 8,129 | 8,450 | 9,553 | 9,598 | 9,264 | 10,508 | 10,435 | 5,081 | 10,948 | 11,236 | |
| York County | 16,823 | 17,997 | 18,885 | 19,900 | 21,685 | 21,703 | 24,184 | 25,504 | 26,285 | 28,549 | 30,033 | 30,148 | 30,069 | 31,023 | 31,222 | 6,003 | 32,876 | 35,443 |
