Garrett County Public Schools (GCPS) is introducing a new cafeteria point-of-sale (POS) system for the 2026-27 school year, providing families with convenient tools to manage student cafeteria accounts and purchases.
All students enrolled in GCPS will continue to receive free breakfast and lunch every school day through the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), a federal program under the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs. Because GCPS participates in CEP, families do not need to complete meal benefit applications or pay for student breakfast and lunch.
Although breakfast and lunch are provided at no cost, students may use their cafeteria accounts to purchase a la carte items, including milk, water, and other available items. Students who bring a packed lunch from home may also use their account to purchase a la carte items.
How the Updated Point of Sale System Works
All GCPS cafeterias use a computerized Point of Sale system. Students will access their individual cafeteria accounts by entering their assigned Personal Identification Number (PIN) when making purchases.
Families should help their children learn their PIN and remind them not to share it with anyone, as the PIN provides access to their cafeteria account. If a student forgets their PIN, cafeteria staff will be able to assist them.
Parents and guardians may send cash or checks with their students to deposit into their cafeteria accounts. However, GCPS strongly encourages families to use the SchoolCafé Family Hub, which provides a convenient way to manage and monitor student accounts online.
Through SchoolCafé, families can:
- View student account balances
- Monitor cafeteria purchases and activity
- Add funds to student accounts
- Set up automatic payments
- Ensure funds are available for à la carte purchases
Access the SchoolCafé Family Hub via https://www.family.schoolcafe.com.
Benefits of Placing Money on Account
- Safe: A student’s PIN provides secure access to their individual account.
- Convenient: Money placed on account cannot be lost or forgotten during the morning rush.
- Fast: Students who properly enter their PINs can move more quickly through the cafeteria service line, allowing more time to eat.
- Monitored: Parents and guardians can view account balances and cafeteria activity through the SchoolCafé Family Hub.
- Peace of Mind: The Automatic Payment feature helps ensure funds are available when students want to purchase a la carte items.
GCPS encourages families to establish their SchoolCafé accounts before the start of the school year and use the Family Hub to monitor and fund student cafeteria accounts throughout the year.
