Darlington County
School District
School Nutrition
Community Eligibility Provision for 2026-2027
In addition to the free breakfast and lunch options, some schools in the district, particularly the high schools, offer additional food choices beyond the standard cafeteria meals. These food choices, such as pizza and subs, are considered “ala carte” items and are not part of the CEP. Students will be charged for ala carte items.
SMART SNACKS
Any food sold in schools must be a “whole grain-rich” grain product; or have as the first ingredient a fruit, a vegetable, a dairy product, or a protein food; or be a combination of food that contains at least 1/4 cup of fruit and/or vegetable; or contain 10% of the Daily Value (DV) of one of the nutrients of public health concern in the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (calcium, potassium, vitamin D, or dietary fiber).
Foods must also meet several nutritional requirements relating to calorie limits, sodium limits, fat limits and sugar limits.
These food standards also impact beverages sold in the schools. Schools may now sell plain water (with or without carbonation), unflavored low fat milk, unflavored or flavored fat free milk and milk alternatives, 100% fruit or vegetable juice and 100% fruit or vegetable juice diluted with water (with or without carbonation) and no added sweeteners. High school students may also have additional “no calorie” or “lower calorie” beverage options.
The new Smart Snacks guidelines will also govern any food sold as fundraisers during the school day. Those foods must now meet the same calorie, sodium, fat and sugar limitations as food served and sold in the cafeteria. Many popular fundraisers such as bake sales, ice cream, candy bars, and pizza will be impacted. The DCSD’s Food Services Department has been working all summer with vendors to find foods that both meet the nutritional guidelines and appeal to students. Smart Snacks guidelines do not affect food sold after school hours on campuses.
The district has provided a link to the Smart Snacks calculator so parents, school leaders, and club leaders can determine what foods will meet the new Smart Snacks guidelines. The Smart Snacks calculator can be found at the Food Services Department tab on the district’s website at www.dcsdschools.org.
LUNCH PREPAY
For those families who choose not to particpate in the free breakfast and lunch options, www.lunchprepay.com is a convenient, secure way that parents can pre-pay for their child(ren)'s meals in the cafeteria from the privacy of their own home using a credit/debit card!
Not only that, if parents sign up for the premier service, they will have 24-7 access to their child(ren)'s account balances and even view their meal history!
To sign up for this new service, simply click on the weblink below
and click on "New User".
(You will have to have your child(ren)'s student number(s), which can be found on their report cards, or you can call their school to obtain this information).
CAFETERIA HEALTH INSPECTIONS
Please click on the DHEC picture below to access the link for Food Establishment Scores obtained by SCDHEC. Once in the site, fill in the school name and city then click "search".
You will then be able to view the scores awarded.
All detailed DHEC inspections are
posted in each cafeteria for public viewing.
FOOD SERVICE OFFICE HOURS
| Monday-Thursday | 7:00 AM - 3:30 PM |
| Friday | 7:00 AM - 2:30 PM |
| Saturday & Sunday | Closed |
Justice For All Poster - click HERE
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs).
Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the State or local Agency that administers the program or contact USDA through the Telecommunications Relay Service at 711 (voice and TTY). Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, by clicking here, or at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992.
Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:
Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Mail Stop 9410, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
Fax: (202) 690-7442; or
Email: program.intake@usda.gov
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.