There are a number of limitations to using free and reduced price lunch (FRPL) status as an indicator for poverty.

1. Elibability based on the federal poverty level (130% free; 131-185% reduced). Is this an appropriate measure of poverty?
2. Op-in program. Undercount high school students.
3. Community Eligibility Provision. Schools with >40% FRPL can stop collecting paperwork and report 100% FRPL.

In 2019, there were 34 schools in Kentucky with 100% FRPL student populations.

School counts by FRPL population

How does the FRPL poverty indicator compare to the SIDE indicator?

Scatterplot of FRPL and SIDE

• Increased # FRPL students associated lower income-to-poverty ratio (i.e., poorer neighboorhoods)
• Varation in income-to-poverty ratio for schools with 100% FRPL

What’s the income-to-poverty ratio for schools with 100% FRPL?

Split schools into quintiles, using income-to-ratio

Where do 100% FRPL schools fall?

• 14 schools are located in poorest neighborhoods
• 2 are located in the richest neighborhoods
• Wow!

Discuss implications