There’s an important issue affecting students at our school: the rising cost of lunch prices. To understand the impact of these changes, I interviewed four students, two teachers, and a cafeteria staff member to get their perspectives on whether these prices are fair or excessive.
The first person I spoke with was a student, SB. SB believes that cafeteria prices are reasonable overall. While the quality of the food might not be exceptional, it’s better than what was offered in middle school. For instance, paying around $2.25 for fries seems fair since the school needs to generate revenue. SB finds that the prices of hamburgers and chicken sandwiches are also acceptable, especially since the chicken sandwich is actually pretty good.
I have to agree with SB to some extent. Burgers, fries, and other main items are priced reasonably—but I can’t say the same for the sweets. Candy, muffins, and donuts are sold for much higher prices, with donuts costing nearly $4.50. Not everyone at our school can afford that. What about students who don’t have the extra money to spend on food every day? National statistics show that almost 99% of schools charge too much for cafeteria food, which often isn’t particularly healthy either.
Another teacher, Ms. Lauren Dytrych, shared a similar sentiment. “Thanks for reaching out. I don’t believe cafeteria staff set these prices. However, I do agree that prices have gone up.”
A fellow student, Madison, added, “I spend about $10 on lunch every day, so in just two weeks, I have to refill my account. Three dollars for coffee or two dollars for a hash brown is pretty crazy.”
Mr. Chambers, another teacher, noted how food costs are rising across the board. “I’ve noticed that even chips—the only thing I buy—have gotten more expensive. The food service company isn’t necessarily looking to make huge profits; they’re trying to keep up with rising costs in the industry. If they pay more for ingredients, they’ll have to charge more, or they might lose money and risk cutting the program altogether.”
Student Moille had similar thoughts. “Thanks for asking! Prices are too high, especially for basic items. $3 for fries feels a bit much, especially when so many of us are on budgets. If items were closer to $1, more people would buy them, which could increase both sales and student satisfaction.”
Finally, I spoke with Manny, one of our cafeteria staff members. She clarified that cafeteria employees don’t set prices; a separate company does that. “We just follow the prices given to us based on what it costs to buy the food,” Manny explained.
So, after hearing from Manny, it’s clear the cafeteria staff aren’t to blame. But the question remains: where is all this money going? Are there hidden fees or unexplained costs we’re not aware of? Maybe it’s time to dig deeper so that we can better understand why prices are so high. Let’s come together to push for transparency and fair prices so that everyone can afford a decent lunch.
