Parents Take Note: School Meal Prices Are Going Up In Calvert County

PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. — Calvert kids will need a little more lunch money if they plan to buy meals at school next year. Calvert’s Board of Education (BOE) approved an increase in meal and milk prices for the 2026-27 school year at the June 11 meeting.

Chief Financial Officer Christine Jewett presented the updated plan, citing rising costs to keep the program running, including the cost of food, labor and fixed charges in the district.

Looking ahead, Jewett added, additional cost increases are expected as the program strengthens meal quality and fully aligns with the USDA’s nutrition standards. Planned initiatives include expanding protein-rich breakfast options, reducing overall sugar content, incorporating more locally sourced products and increasing the use of scratch-made and speed-scratch meal preparations, all of which carry higher costs.

Despite these rising costs, the district has only raised the cost three times for a cumulative increase of 13% over the past 11 years.

“The reality is that the cost of serving high-quality meals continues to outpace our current pricing structure,” Jewett said. “Even with the proposed increases, Calvert County’s meal prices remain reasonable,” she added, comparing the costs to surrounding counties.

The board confirmed the price increase in a 5-0 vote. Starting Aug. 25, 2026, meal prices will be as follows:

Elementary students
Breakfast: $1.85
Lunch: $3
Milk: 65 cents

Middle school students
Breakfast: $1.85
Lunch: $3.25
Milk: 65 cents

High school students
Breakfast: $1.85
Lunch: $3.25
Milk: 65 cents

Cost increases are outlined in the chart below:

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