The Pennsylvania Department of Education announced that the third annual Governor’s School Breakfast Challenge will begin in January. In the 2024-25 school year, 58 schools successfully completed the Challenge – 20 more schools than the prior year – increasing the number of students who have access to a nutritious, filling breakfast at school.
“Giving learners the tools they need to succeed begins with ensuring their basic needs are met, and breakfast plays a critical role in helping every child start their day on the right foot,” said Acting Secretary Dr. Carrie Rowe. “The Governor’s School Breakfast Challenge encourages schools to increase breakfast participation and make sustainable changes to incorporate more nutritious and local foods. The Challenge shows that when schools innovate, more students participate and can enjoy healthy food at their convenience.”
The Governor’s School Breakfast Challenge is a three-month program to encourage increased participation in the Universal Free Breakfast Program and recognize schools for increasing breakfast participation while implementing sustainable changes that incorporate more nutritious and local foods in their meal offerings.
In 2025, 58 schools successfully completed the Challenge. The 10 top-performing schools in 2025 were:
- Bethlehem Center Elementary School, Bethlehem-Center School District, Washington County
- Colonial Elementary School, Colonial School District, Montgomery County
- Minersville Jr./Sr. High School, Minersville Area School District, Schuylkill County
- Walton Farm Elementary School, North Penn School District, Montgomery County
- North Wales Elementary School, North Penn School District, Montgomery County
- Penn Hills Charter School of Entrepreneurship, Allegheny County
- Wallenpaupack Area High School, Wallenpaupack Area School District, Pike County
- Wallenpaupack North Intermediate School, Wallenpaupack School District, Pike County
- Wallenpaupack North Primary School, Wallenpaupack School District, Pike County
- Wallenpaupack Area South Elementary School, Wallenpaupack School District, Wayne County
While the top 10 schools with the greatest increase in participation were recognized at an event, all schools that successfully completed the challenge will receive a banner to hang in their school, a certificate, and a breakfast recipe book including recipes submitted by schools that completed the Challenge.
Wallenpaupack High School increased free-breakfast participation among students by 31 percent—and at South Elementary, 75 percent of students participated in free breakfast.
