As part of ProCare Therapy’s ongoing commitment to promoting overall well-being for our nation’s students, ProCare has released the 2025 State of School Lunch Report, which provides an in-depth analysis of how states compare when it comes to school lunch quality and nutrition.
School lunch programs play a vital role in the health and well-being of students across the United States. As one of the primary sources of nutrition for children during the school day, these meals are essential for fueling academic success, supporting physical growth, and promoting overall health. Yet, the quality and nutritional value of school lunches can vary significantly from state to state, influencing not only students’ health but also their ability to concentrate and perform in the classroom.
This year’s State of School Lunch Report aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of how each state compares when it comes to school lunch offerings, with a particular focus on nutritional quality, accessibility, and the ongoing efforts to improve student health through better meal options.
The State of School Lunch in 2025
The 2025 State of School Lunch Report considered a range of factors that influence the quality and nutritional value of school lunches across the United States. Each factor was carefully selected to provide a comprehensive look at how school food programs impact student health and wellness:
- Farm to School Programs: These programs ensure that students have access to fresh, locally sourced foods, providing them with higher-quality, nutrient-dense options that support their growth and learning.
- Farm to School Activities: Activities like school gardens and farm visits engage students in hands-on learning about nutrition, fostering long-term healthy eating habits and an understanding of where food comes from.
- Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Programs: Offering free fruits and vegetables encourages children to incorporate more produce into their diets, helping to reduce the risk of chronic diseases and improving overall nutrition.
- Serving Local Foods: By incorporating local foods, schools support healthy eating habits, promote sustainable agriculture, and provide students with fresher, more nutritious meal options.
- Vegetable Consumption: Regular vegetable consumption is essential for maintaining a balanced diet, supporting immune function, and reducing the likelihood of developing diet-related health issues like obesity or diabetes.
- Sugary Drink Consumption: Reducing sugary drink intake is critical for preventing childhood obesity, dental issues, and other health problems linked to excessive sugar consumption.
- School Gardens: School gardens not only provide fresh produce but also encourage children to try new foods, develop a positive relationship with healthy eating, and improve their mental and emotional well-being through outdoor, hands-on activities.
How States Rank for School Lunch Nutrition
The State of School Lunch Report reveals the top five states leading the way in providing the healthiest school lunches: Vermont (1), Hawaii (2), Washington, D.C. (3), West Virginia (4), and Delaware (5). These states have made significant strides in offering nutritious, locally sourced meals to their students.
- Hawaii stands out with the highest participation in the Farm to School program, with an impressive 99.6% of schools involved. Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Delaware follow closely behind, with over 95% of schools in these states participating in the program.
- Hawaii also leads in the percentage of schools serving local foods, with Virginia, Washington D.C., Rhode Island, and Oregon following suit, where over 87% of schools provide locally grown food to their students.
- Alaska takes the lead in the Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Program, with 75% of its school food authorities offering the initiative. Vermont, Hawaii, North Dakota, and West Virginia also shine, with over 60% of their school food authorities participating.
- Vermont leads the nation in the percentage of schools with edible gardens, with 39% of schools having gardens. Delaware, Georgia, and Massachusetts follow, each with at least 18% of schools utilizing this valuable resource.
There is significant variation across states in the availability of fresh, nutritious food options in school meal programs. The lowest-ranking states for school lunch nutrition include Oklahoma (51), Mississippi (50), South Dakota (49), Missouri (48), and Alabama (47).
South Dakota, for example, has the lowest participation in the Farm to School program, with just 59% of schools involved. Furthermore, only 46% of South Dakota schools engage in at least one Farm to School activity, the lowest in the nation.
Oklahoma has the lowest percentage of schools offering the Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Program, with only 12.1% of school food authorities participating, closely followed by California at 12.2%. Additionally, Mississippi and South Dakota have fewer than 50% of schools serving local foods, and Maryland and Nevada have the fewest edible gardens, with fewer than 2% of schools participating.
Ranked: America’s Healthiest School Lunches
Discover which states are leading the way in providing wholesome, nutritious meals for their students in 2025.
| Rank | State | Score (100 total possible points) |
| 1 | Vermont | 81.68 |
| 2 | Hawaii | 76.08 |
| 3 | Washington, D.C. | 70.11 |
| 4 | West Virginia | 69.7 |
| 5 | Delaware | 69.35 |
| 6 | Virginia | 64.08 |
| 7 | Oregon | 63.08 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | 62.38 |
| 9 | New York | 59.3 |
| 10 | Alaska | 58.68 |
| 11 | South Carolina | 58.59 |
| 12 | Maine | 56.62 |
| 13 | Colorado | 56.34 |
| 14 | Georgia | 53.54 |
| 15 | Massachusetts | 52.86 |
| 16 | Arkansas | 50.61 |
| 17 | New Hampshire | 49.77 |
| 18 | Texas | 48.67 |
| 19 | Connecticut | 48.33 |
| 20 | Florida | 48.26 |
| 21 | Montana | 47.57 |
| 22 | Kentucky | 47.36 |
| 23 | North Carolina | 47.32 |
| 24 | Washington | 47.1 |
| 25 | North Dakota | 46.82 |
| 26 | Minnesota | 46.13 |
| 27 | California | 45.47 |
| 28 | Pennsylvania | 45.17 |
| 29 | Tennessee | 44.9 |
| 30 | Idaho | 44.38 |
| 31 | Michigan | 43.86 |
| 32 | New Mexico | 42.62 |
| 33 | Utah | 42.58 |
| 34 | Nevada | 41.69 |
| 35 | Iowa | 40.34 |
| 36 | Wyoming | 39.97 |
| 37 | New Jersey | 39.46 |
| 38 | Arizona | 39.33 |
| 39 | Nebraska | 39.01 |
| 40 | Kansas | 38.45 |
| 41 | Ohio | 38.41 |
| 42 | Maryland | 37.62 |
| 43 | Louisiana | 35.51 |
| 44 | Wisconsin | 35.37 |
| 45 | Illinois | 33.88 |
| 46 | Indiana | 32.88 |
| 47 | Alabama | 29.96 |
| 48 | Missouri | 26.65 |
| 49 | South Dakota | 19.6 |
| 50 | Mississippi | 16.6 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | 12.86 |
Building a Healthier Future
By analyzing these key indicators, ProCare Therapy hopes to provide a clearer picture of the current state of school lunch programs and highlight areas for improvement. Our findings show that state education systems that support local food sourcing, vegetable consumption, and school-based nutrition education contribute to fostering healthier eating habits among children.
“Access to nutritious school lunches and nutrition education is crucial for the health and academic success of our nation’s children,” said Stephanie Morris, Senior Vice President of ProCare Therapy. “This report serves to recognize the states that are leading the charge in offering high-quality, healthy meals to their students.”
ProCare Therapy hopes that the State of School Lunch Report inspires educators, families, and district staff to prioritize the health and well-being of their students by offering nutritious, delicious, and satisfying school lunches—so they can thrive both in the classroom and beyond.
From promoting physical activity for children in need as an adapted physical education teacher to serving as an essential source of medical care for children as a school nurse, explore exciting career opportunities with ProCare and help shape a healthier, brighter future for our next generation. Explore previous State of School Lunch Reports here.
Data Sources and Methodology
The data used to calculate rankings was sourced from reputable federal sources such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). Each factor was weighted and adjusted to create a scale for comparison, with the final ranking reflecting the overall nutritional quality of school lunch programs in each state.
- Schools Participating in the Farm to School Program (20%): The percentage of schools in farm to school SFAs in responding SFAs.
- Schools with Farm to School Activities (15%): The percentage of schools that reported doing at least one farm to school activity in responding SFAs.
- Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Programs (20%): The percentage of state school food authorities participating in the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP).
- Schools Serving Local Foods (20%): The percentage of schools serving local foods in responding SFAs. The USDA supports schools in incorporating local foods into their meal programs through various initiatives like the “National School Lunch Program” and the “Local Food for Schools” program.
- School Gardens (15%): The percentage of schools with an edible garden in responding SFAs. USDA encourages school gardens by providing grant funding, guidance, resources, and support for food service personnel.
- Vegetable Consumption (5%): The estimated percentage of children in the state who ate a vegetable at least once daily in the last week.
- Sugary Drink Consumption (5%): The estimated percentage of children in the state who did not consume sugary drinks in the last week.