The most recent numbers available for comparisons among states are from 2009-2010. Kentucky, with 55 percent of students eligible for free and reduced price lunches, was tied with Alabama and California.
| State | 2009-10 |
| Mississippi | 71 |
| New Mexico | 66 |
| Louisiana | 66 |
| Arkansas | 60 |
| Oklahoma | 59 |
| Georgia | 56 |
| Alabama | 55 |
| California | 55 |
| Kentucky | 55 |
| South Carolina | 54 |
| Tennessee | 53 |
| Florida | 53 |
| West Virginia | 52 |
| Texas | 51 |
| North Carolina | 49 |
| Oregon | 49 |
| Note: Estimates based on operational schools with membership. Estimates based counts form October 1st of the reported school year. Combined free and reduced-price lunch percentage may not match details due to item non-response. Details may not sum to totals due to rounding. | |
| SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data (CCD), Public Elementary/Secondary School Universe Survey, 1999-2000 | |
