Durham Public Schools Cafeteria Menu: What’s for Lunch Oct. 5-9, 2026
Year-round campuses stay closed, Wednesday is an early-release day, and CIHS students are off Thursday. What’s on DPS cafeteria menus Oct. 5-9?
Wes Platt
By Wes Platt, wes.platt@southpointaccess.news
🍎 Durham Public Schools Cafeteria Menu: Oct. 5-9, 2026
Durham Public Schools cafeterias will serve mini pancakes, chicken sandwiches, cheeseburgers, spaghetti, pizza, and more during the week of Oct. 5-9.
Families should keep several calendar notes in mind:
- Year-round schools remain in intersession through Thursday, Oct. 8, followed by a required teacher workday Friday, Oct. 9. Year-round students return Monday, Oct. 12.
- Wednesday, Oct. 7, is an early-release day for schools in session.
- Cooperative Innovative High Schools, or CIHS, have a teacher workday Thursday, Oct. 8.
Breakfast and lunch remain free for all DPS students.
🥞 K-8 Breakfast
| Date | Menu |
|---|---|
| Monday, Oct. 5 | Mini pancakes (V); chilled peaches |
| Tuesday, Oct. 6 | Chicken and waffle; applesauce. Pre-K: Waffle (V) |
| Wednesday, Oct. 7 | Mini filled bagel (V); fruit cup |
| Thursday, Oct. 8 | Mini Cinnis (V); mixed fruit. Pre-K: Blueberry muffin (V) |
| Friday, Oct. 9 | Chicken sausage biscuit; hash brown rounds |
Breakfast includes low-fat or fat-free milk, fresh fruit, and 100% fruit juice. Whole-grain cereal and cereal bars are available daily.
🍳 High School Breakfast
| Date | Menu |
|---|---|
| Monday, Oct. 5 | Breakfast pizza; chilled peaches |
| Tuesday, Oct. 6 | Croissant sandwich; hash brown rounds |
| Wednesday, Oct. 7 | Whole-grain bakery item (V); fruit cup |
| Thursday, Oct. 8 | Scrambled egg entrée; mixed fruit |
| Friday, Oct. 9 | Biscuit sandwich; hash brown rounds |
High school breakfast includes low-fat or fat-free milk, fresh fruit, and 100% fruit juice. Daily alternatives include whole-grain cereal, cereal bars, donuts, Pop-Tarts, muffins, and Wowbutter sandwiches. A fruit and yogurt parfait with granola is also available Tuesday through Thursday.
CIHS students have no school Thursday because of a teacher workday.
🏫 Elementary School Lunch
| Date | Entrée choices | Sides |
|---|---|---|
| Monday, Oct. 5 | Chicken filet sandwich or cheese quesadilla (V) | Garden peas, steamed corn, and spiced apples |
| Tuesday, Oct. 6 | Cheeseburger on a bun or veggie burger on a bun (V) | Tater tots, barbecue baked beans, and fruit choice |
| Wednesday, Oct. 7 | Early release: Assorted pizza options or cheese pizza (V) | Sweet potato fries, local seasoned greens, and fresh fruit |
| Thursday, Oct. 8 | Beef spaghetti with a breadstick, hummus and flatbread (V), or crispy chicken salad with a roll | Green beans, baby carrots with dip, and chilled pears |
| Friday, Oct. 9 | Assorted pizza options or cheese pizza (V) | Cucumber slices with dip, tossed salad with dressing, and peaches |
Wowbutter and jelly (V) is available daily. Lunch includes low-fat or fat-free milk and fresh fruit.
🎒 Middle School Lunch
| Date | Entrée choices | Sides |
|---|---|---|
| Monday, Oct. 5 | Chicken filet sandwich or cheese quesadilla (V) | Garden peas, steamed corn, and spiced apples |
| Tuesday, Oct. 6 | Cheeseburger on a bun or veggie burger on a bun (V) | Tater tots, barbecue baked beans, and fruit choice |
| Wednesday, Oct. 7 | Early release: Assorted pizza options or cheese pizza (V) | Sweet potato fries, local seasoned greens, and fresh fruit |
| Thursday, Oct. 8 | Beef spaghetti with a breadstick, hummus and flatbread (V), or MS to Go crispy chicken salad with a roll | Green beans, baby carrots with dip, and chilled pears |
| Friday, Oct. 9 | Assorted pizza options, cheese pizza (V), or MS to Go crispy chicken salad with a roll | Cucumber slices with dip, tossed salad with dressing, and peaches |
Assorted pizza and Wowbutter and jelly (V) are available daily. Lunch includes low-fat or fat-free milk, fresh fruit, and 100% fruit juice.
🎓 High School Lunch
| Date | Entrée choices | Sides |
|---|---|---|
| Monday, Oct. 5 | Regular or spicy chicken sandwich or cheese-filled pizza sticks with marinara (V) | Sweet potato fries, steamed corn, and spiced apples |
| Tuesday, Oct. 6 | Carolina cheeseburger or veggie burger on a bun (V) | Oven potatoes, barbecue baked beans, and fruit choice |
| Wednesday, Oct. 7 | Early release: Assorted pizza options or cheese pizza (V) | Green beans, carrots, and fresh fruit |
| Thursday, Oct. 8 | Saucy chicken chunks with a roll or Southwestern chicken salad with tortilla chips | Cherry tomatoes with dip, local seasoned greens, and chilled pears |
| Friday, Oct. 9 | Fish and chips basket with a cornbread muffin or cheese quesadilla (V) | Coleslaw, oven potatoes, and peaches |
CIHS students have no school Thursday because of a teacher workday. Assorted pizza and Wowbutter and jelly (V) are available daily at high schools in session. Lunch includes low-fat or fat-free milk, fresh fruit, and 100% fruit juice.
💵 Meal Prices and Menu Notes
- Students: Breakfast and lunch are free for all students.
- Adult breakfast: $2.50
- Adult lunch: $4.50
- Milk: 50 cents
- (V): Meatless entrée
- Menus are subject to change.
⚠️ Food Allergy Information
DPS prepares food in commercial kitchens where cross-contact with allergens is possible. Ingredients may also change because of substitutions, recipe revisions, or manufacturer updates. The district cannot guarantee that any menu item is completely free of allergens.
Families with questions about a particular food or recipe can contact Durham Public Schools Nutrition Services at 919-560-2370.
Wes Platt
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Wes Platt
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