schools
‘This decision was not made lightly’: Cheatham County Schools to increase school meal prices
By Danica Sauter at WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate)
· July 14, 2026
· 1 min read
ASHLAND CITY, Tenn. (WSMV) - Families who pay for school lunches in Cheatham County will soon be paying more for their kids’ meals. For the first time in four years, the school district will increase the price of school lunches. The district said that over the past year, food and supply costs hav...
Key takeaway The new meal prices will be as follows: $3 student breakfast$4 student lunch$4 adult breakfast$6 adult lunch$5 holiday breakfast$7 holiday lunch “This decision was not made lightly,” CCS said.
Why this matters in The Nashville
The decision by Cheatham County Schools to increase school meal prices will have a direct impact on the budgets of local families, particularly those with multiple children in the district. With the new prices, a family with two children will now pay $8 per day for lunches, up from the previous rate. This increase may be a burden for some households, especially considering the already existing financial pressures from other school-related expenses. The district's encouragement for families to apply for free or reduced-price meals is a crucial step, as many may be eligible for assistance without realizing it. As the new school year approaches, it will be worth monitoring how the price increase affects participation in the school meal program and whether the district sees a rise in applications for meal benefits. The financial strain on local families will be a key aspect to watch in the coming months.
About this story
Original reporting by WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate) . The Nashville surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: schools ·
Published: July 14, 2026 ·
Source: WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate) ·
Reading time: 1 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? ASHLAND CITY, Tenn. (WSMV) - Families who pay for school lunches in Cheatham County will soon be paying more for their kids’ meals. For the first time in four years, the school district will increase the price of school lunches. The district said that over the past year, food and supply costs hav...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 14, 2026 by WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate) and curated for The Nashville readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Danica Sauter at WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate). To learn more about how The Nashville selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more schools coverage from The Nashville, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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