INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Students at six schools in the Indian River County School District (SDIRC) will get free meals during the 2026-2027 school year, the district announced on Tuesday.
Fellsmere Academy will serve free breakfast and lunch to all students every school day. Five other schools will offer free breakfast only: Pelican Island Classical Magnet, Citrus Elementary, Dodgertown Elementary, Vero Beach Elementary and Indian River Academy.
They use federal programs called Provision 2 to reduce paperwork for families and offer free meals at some schools, helping many families save money. Schools qualify based on the number of students who meet the free or reduced-price meal eligibility criteria.
According to the Food and Nutrition Services of SDIRC, these schools are not chosen by the School District. They qualify based on federal and state eligibility requirements, which are determined by the percentage of students at the school who qualify for free or reduced-price meals.
Families at other schools may still qualify for free or reduced-price meals depending on family size and income.
The district will be sending letters to all homes with school-age children. Parents or guardians should fill out the online meal application and return it to their child’s school.
Free and Reduced-Price Meal Application
Starting July 15, families across the district can complete a Free and Reduced-Price Meal Application to see if they qualify. Those applications not only determine whether a student is eligible for free or reduced-price meals, but they also help determine whether a school may qualify for programs like Provision 2 in the future.
Anyone with questions can call Shawn O’Keefe, the district’s nutrition services director, at (772) 564-5041 or email him at shawn.okeefe@indianriverschools.org.
The School District of Indian River County is located at 6500 57th Street in Vero Beach.
