Burke County Public Schools
Igniting Learning for a Brighter Future
Interested in driving a school bus? The next BCPS school bus driving class is November 16 through November 18 from 8:15 a.m. to 3 p.m. Classes are held at BCPS Central Office at 700 E. Parker Rd. Call the bus garage at 828-437-4770 to sign up!
It's National School Lunch Week! To celebrate the circus theme, elementary students have a chance to win a prize each day with Lucky Tray Days all week. Students with a sticker on their tray can pick out a prize like bookmarks, sticker books, silly glasses ad more.
Middle schoolers have fun pizza options this week like hot honey chicken pizza, pictured today, and buffalo ranch pizza along with cheese pizza. On Friday, all schools will have walking nachos as an option for Premium Lunch Day- Doritos topped with taco meat.
All school meals are free for all students thanks to CEP! Find the full menu for each school on Nutrislice.
Premium Lunch Days for October have been great so far! Last Friday, we served bbq chicken thighs and onion rings as an option, and this week, we served bacon cheeseburgers.
Each Friday is Premium Lunch Day in BCPS cafeterias. We serve a premium item for the same price as a regular lunch- free for all students thanks to CEP!
Next week is National School Lunch Week with Walking Nachos (a personal bag of Doritos topped with chicken taco meat) on Friday, Oct. 16.
Each Friday is Premium Lunch Day in BCPS cafeterias. We serve a premium item for the same price as a regular lunch- free for all students thanks to CEP!
Next week is National School Lunch Week with Walking Nachos (a personal bag of Doritos topped with chicken taco meat) on Friday, Oct. 16.
The Claws Cafe at Patton High School got a major upgrade this school year! Now serving food and pastries, students have so many new options each morning and during lunch. The cafeteria team makes fresh handmade brownies and cinnamon rolls each day plus calzones, wraps and wings for lunch- all K-12 approved!
Coffee drinks like a pumpkin spice latte, mocha and more all start at $3. Claws Cafe even offers cold foam, whipped cream and dozens of sugar-free syrups to customize drinks. Currently, East Burke High School and Patton High School are the only BCPS schools with School Beans coffee shops, but we look forward to offering these options at all high schools in the future!
Step right up! National School Lunch Week is coming October 12-16, and we're bringing the Cafeteria Circus to life in elementary schools with a fun circus-themed menu.
Oct. 12: Corn Dog
Oct. 13: Pancake Donut Bites
Oct. 14: Chicken Drumstick
Oct. 15: Cheese Pizza
Oct. 16: Walking Nachos
For extra fun, we’re running Lucky Tray Day all week at the elementary schools. If your school lunch tray has a sticker on the bottom, you win a prize! School meals are free for all students.
All school cafeterias are serving premium walking nachos for lunch on Friday, Oct. 16 as the Premium Lunch Day option. Walking nachos use Doritos as the nacho base and are topped with chicken taco meat, cheese and other toppings. Premium lunches are also free for all students.
Oct. 12: Corn Dog
Oct. 13: Pancake Donut Bites
Oct. 14: Chicken Drumstick
Oct. 15: Cheese Pizza
Oct. 16: Walking Nachos
For extra fun, we’re running Lucky Tray Day all week at the elementary schools. If your school lunch tray has a sticker on the bottom, you win a prize! School meals are free for all students.
All school cafeterias are serving premium walking nachos for lunch on Friday, Oct. 16 as the Premium Lunch Day option. Walking nachos use Doritos as the nacho base and are topped with chicken taco meat, cheese and other toppings. Premium lunches are also free for all students.
Congratulations to our cafeteria staff for scoring perfect sanitation grades! All of our cafeterias currently have 100 sanitation grades.
Congratulations to these cafeterias for earning perfect sanitation scores recently! All of our cafeterias currently hold a 100 score, and we are super proud!
Today marks the first day of fall! Students at Walter Johnson Middle School sampled a fall-inspired recipe during lunch- roasted cinnamon sweet potatoes. Sweetened with brown sugar and cinnamon, this side dish is super delicious! Find the simple recipe below.
Ingredients:
1.5 lbs- peeled, diced sweet potatoes
4 tbsp orange juice
1 tsp ground cinnamon
2 tsp brown sugar
2 tbsp cooking oil
Directions
1. In a bowl, combine orange juice, cinnamon and brown sugar
2. Toss diced, peeled sweet potatoes and oil with the mixture and place on a well-greased baking pan.
3. Roast at 375 degrees until tender, around 20 minutes.
Ingredients:
1.5 lbs- peeled, diced sweet potatoes
4 tbsp orange juice
1 tsp ground cinnamon
2 tsp brown sugar
2 tbsp cooking oil
Directions
1. In a bowl, combine orange juice, cinnamon and brown sugar
2. Toss diced, peeled sweet potatoes and oil with the mixture and place on a well-greased baking pan.
3. Roast at 375 degrees until tender, around 20 minutes.
We’ve loved welcoming grandparents and guests to BCPS elementary cafeterias for Grandparents Week!
This week is Chef Appreciation Week, and we're celebrating our own Chef Auden Joseph. As the Chartwells K12 district chef, he helps create the breakfast and lunch menus for the district, hosts cafeteria events like Mood Boosts and Discovery Kitchen plus so much more behind the scenes. BCPS is lucky to have a talented culinary chef to bring exciting dishes to our students!
The M.E.A.L. Mobile food truck made the first stop of the school year at Drexel Elementary this morning, serving 5th graders a savory breakfast to start the day. Students could choose from scrambled eggs, bacon and gravy biscuits plus a side of herb-roasted potatoes and fresh fruit. The food truck will stop at all schools for breakfast and lunch this school year.
Breakfast and lunch, including the food truck meals, are free to all students thanks to CEP!
Nacho average Premium Lunch Day with fajita chicken nachos! All BCPS cafeterias offered fajita nachos as a lunch option today for this week's Premium Lunch Day, free for all students.
The North Carolina Symphony performed for BCPS third graders today in a spectacular show called "What Makes Music, Music?" Students learned about music concepts while listening to a mix of genres played by the musicians.
Interested in driving a school bus? The next BCPS school bus driving class is September 28 through 30 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Classes are held at BCPS Central Office at 700 E. Parker Rd. Call the bus garage at 828-437-4770 to sign up.
Chartwells K12 is now hiring in BCPS cafeterias for a shift supervisor position. In this role, you will work across different cafeterias where needed as a cook, server, cashier or leader. This position requires ServSafe certification and prior kitchen experience. With no nights, weekend or holiday shifts, this role is perfect for someone with kids in school at BCPS. To apply or get more information, text "Jobs" to 75000 and reply with requisition ID number 1544703.
This is the final week for BCPS Summer Meals, serving children 18 and under free meals now through Thursday, August 13 at the following meal sites.
Daily lunch in cafeterias: Mountain View and Valdese Elementary are serving free lunch Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Lunch is free for anyone 18 and under and includes an entree, two sides and milk. Both sites are open through August 13.
M.E.A.L. Mobile food truck: Two sites in Morganton are serving free lunch to anyone 18 and under each Monday through Thursday. Stop 1 is Hillcrest Elementary from 11 to 11:45 a.m. Stop 2 is Martha's Park from 12:15 to 1 p.m. Lunch includes an entree, two sides and a milk. The food truck is serving now through August 13.
Meal bundle pickups: The final meal bundle pickup will be Wednesday, August 12 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Families can pick up meal bundles from East Burke High School or Table Rock Middle School. Meal bundles include 7 breakfast and 7 lunches and are for anyone 18 and under. No sign up is required- just let us know how many children 18 and under you are feeding.
We can't wait to welcome everyone back to school with free breakfast and lunch for all students thanks to CEP!
Daily lunch in cafeterias: Mountain View and Valdese Elementary are serving free lunch Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Lunch is free for anyone 18 and under and includes an entree, two sides and milk. Both sites are open through August 13.
M.E.A.L. Mobile food truck: Two sites in Morganton are serving free lunch to anyone 18 and under each Monday through Thursday. Stop 1 is Hillcrest Elementary from 11 to 11:45 a.m. Stop 2 is Martha's Park from 12:15 to 1 p.m. Lunch includes an entree, two sides and a milk. The food truck is serving now through August 13.
Meal bundle pickups: The final meal bundle pickup will be Wednesday, August 12 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Families can pick up meal bundles from East Burke High School or Table Rock Middle School. Meal bundles include 7 breakfast and 7 lunches and are for anyone 18 and under. No sign up is required- just let us know how many children 18 and under you are feeding.
We can't wait to welcome everyone back to school with free breakfast and lunch for all students thanks to CEP!
BCPS Parent Portal is now open for parents of returning students to complete their Annual Updates.
From your Parent Portal Account Select
More > Online Registration Updates > 2026-2027 Annual Updates
If you do not have a Parent Portal Account reach out to your child's school or you can find information on the BCPS Enrollment Page from the district website.
www.burke.k12.nc.us/parents/enrollment
Annual updates help us ensure student and parent information is up to date and must be submitted by September 4th.
Only two more weeks for BCPS Summer Meals, serving children 18 and under free meals now through August 13 at the following meal sites.
Daily lunch in cafeterias: Mountain View and Valdese Elementary are serving free lunch Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Lunch is free for anyone 18 and under and includes an entree, two sides and milk. Both sites are open through August 13.
M.E.A.L. Mobile food truck: Two sites in Morganton are serving free lunch to anyone 18 and under each Monday through Thursday. Stop 1 is Hillcrest Elementary from 11 to 11:45 a.m. Stop 2 is Martha's Park from 12:15 to 1 p.m. Lunch includes an entree, two sides and a milk. The food truck is serving now through August 13.
Meal bundle pickups: Each Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., families can pick up meal bundles from East Burke High School or Table Rock Middle School. Meal bundles include 7 breakfast and 7 lunches and are for anyone 18 and under. No sign up is required- just let us know how many children 18 and under you are feeding. The last meal bundle pickup will be August 12.
So far, we've served over 150,000 meals this summer across all sites!
Daily lunch in cafeterias: Mountain View and Valdese Elementary are serving free lunch Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Lunch is free for anyone 18 and under and includes an entree, two sides and milk. Both sites are open through August 13.
M.E.A.L. Mobile food truck: Two sites in Morganton are serving free lunch to anyone 18 and under each Monday through Thursday. Stop 1 is Hillcrest Elementary from 11 to 11:45 a.m. Stop 2 is Martha's Park from 12:15 to 1 p.m. Lunch includes an entree, two sides and a milk. The food truck is serving now through August 13.
Meal bundle pickups: Each Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., families can pick up meal bundles from East Burke High School or Table Rock Middle School. Meal bundles include 7 breakfast and 7 lunches and are for anyone 18 and under. No sign up is required- just let us know how many children 18 and under you are feeding. The last meal bundle pickup will be August 12.
So far, we've served over 150,000 meals this summer across all sites!
Burke County Public Schools is now hiring bus drivers and monitors at multiple schools. If interested, be sure to join the bus driving class August 3 through August 5. Call the bus garage at 828-437-4770 to sign up. This is the last class before the new school year.
Drivers are needed for the afternoon route at East Burke Middle and Forest Hill Elementary. Drivers are needed for morning and afternoon routes at Drexel Elementary, Glen Alpine Elementary, Liberty Middle and Oak Hill Elementary.
Bus monitors are needed at East Burke Middle, Heritage Middle, W.A. Young Elementary.
Visit the BCPS website to apply. https://www.burke.k12.nc.us/departments/human-resources/employment-opportunities
Drivers are needed for the afternoon route at East Burke Middle and Forest Hill Elementary. Drivers are needed for morning and afternoon routes at Drexel Elementary, Glen Alpine Elementary, Liberty Middle and Oak Hill Elementary.
Bus monitors are needed at East Burke Middle, Heritage Middle, W.A. Young Elementary.
Visit the BCPS website to apply. https://www.burke.k12.nc.us/departments/human-resources/employment-opportunities
BCPS Summer Meals return this week with the addition of the M.E.A.L. Mobile food truck. Children 18 and under can enjoy free meals now through August 13 at the following meal sites.
M.E.A.L. Mobile food truck: Two sites in Morganton are serving free lunch to anyone 18 and under each Monday through Thursday. Stop 1 is Hillcrest Elementary from 11 to 11:45 a.m. Stop 2 is Martha's Park from 12:15 to 1 p.m. Lunch includes an entree, two sides and a milk. These stops are now through August 13.
Daily lunch in cafeterias: Mountain View and Valdese Elementary are serving free lunch Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Lunch is free for anyone 18 and under and includes an entree, two sides and milk. Both sites are open through August 13.
Meal bundle pickups: Each Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., families can pick up meal bundles from East Burke High School or Table Rock Middle School. Meal bundles include 7 breakfast and 7 lunches and are for anyone 18 and under. No sign up is required- just let us know how many children 18 and under you are feeding. The last meal bundle pickup will be August 12.
M.E.A.L. Mobile food truck: Two sites in Morganton are serving free lunch to anyone 18 and under each Monday through Thursday. Stop 1 is Hillcrest Elementary from 11 to 11:45 a.m. Stop 2 is Martha's Park from 12:15 to 1 p.m. Lunch includes an entree, two sides and a milk. These stops are now through August 13.
Daily lunch in cafeterias: Mountain View and Valdese Elementary are serving free lunch Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Lunch is free for anyone 18 and under and includes an entree, two sides and milk. Both sites are open through August 13.
Meal bundle pickups: Each Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., families can pick up meal bundles from East Burke High School or Table Rock Middle School. Meal bundles include 7 breakfast and 7 lunches and are for anyone 18 and under. No sign up is required- just let us know how many children 18 and under you are feeding. The last meal bundle pickup will be August 12.
