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Free food for thought: The effect of universal free school meals on graduation rates in the US

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  • Zhao, Vivian

Abstract

This paper evaluates the impact of the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) – which expanded free school meal access at low-income schools across the US – on high school graduation rates. Using education and demographic data, I compare within-school outcomes between 2011 and 2020. I find that CEP improved graduation rates by 1.506 percentage points (p = 0.024) at schools where a lower percentage of students were originally eligible for free or reduced-price meals. Further analysis shows that a single year of exposure improved graduation rates by 1.373 percentage points (p = 0.040) and exposure for over a year increased graduation rates by 1.787 percentage points (p = 0.039).

Suggested Citation

  • Zhao, Vivian, 2025. "Free food for thought: The effect of universal free school meals on graduation rates in the US," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 247(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolet:v:247:y:2025:i:c:s0165176524006116
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econlet.2024.112127
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Marcus, Michelle & Yewell, Katherine G., 2022. "The Effect of Free School Meals on Household Food Purchases: Evidence from the Community Eligibility Provision," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    2. Krista Ruffini, 2022. "Universal Access to Free School Meals and Student Achievement: Evidence from the Community Eligibility Provision," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 57(3), pages 776-820.
    3. Davis, Will & Kreisman, Daniel & Musaddiq, Tareena, 2023. "The Effect of Universal Free School Meals on Child BMI," IZA Discussion Papers 16387, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    4. Michah W. Rothbart & Amy Ellen Schwartz & Emily Gutierrez, 2023. "Paying for Free Lunch: The Impact of CEP Universal Free Meals on Revenues, Spending, and Student Health," Education Finance and Policy, MIT Press, vol. 18(4), pages 708-737, Fall.
    5. Schneider, Kate R. & Oslund, Jennifer & Liu, Tiffany, 2021. "Impact of the Community Eligibility Provision Program on School Meal Participation in Texas," 2021 Annual Meeting, August 1-3, Austin, Texas 313938, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    6. Gundersen, Craig & Kreider, Brent & Pepper, John, 2012. "The impact of the National School Lunch Program on child health: A nonparametric bounds analysis," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 166(1), pages 79-91.
    7. Gordanier, John & Ozturk, Orgul & Williams, Breyon & Zhan, Crystal, 2020. "Free Lunch for All! The Effect of the Community Eligibility Provision on Academic Outcomes," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    8. Rabbitt, Matthew P. & Reed-Jones, Madeline & Hales, Laura J. & Burke, Michael P., 2024. "Household Food Security in the United States in 2023," Economic Research Report 344963, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    9. Rabbitt, Matthew P. & Reed-Jones, Madeline & Hales, Laura J. & Burke, Michael P., 2024. "Statistical Supplement to Household Food Security in the United States in 2023," Administrative Publications 344962, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
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