MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) - From pizza slices to chocolate milk, back-to-school season marks the return to the cafeteria, but the cost of those meals is becoming an increasingly heavy burden for many Wisconsin families.

Public records requests filed across the state reveal a significant rise in unpaid lunch debt between 2023 and 2025.

Madison Metropolitan School District saw a 70% spike

Green Bay Area School District reported a 41% increase*

Wausau School District jumped 68%

Eau Claire Area School District saw a 15% rise

Superior School District reported they do not track district-wide totals

Some communities have stepped up to help. Generous donations eliminated Eau Claire’s debt entirely and reduced Wausau’s net debt increase to 27%. Still, the upward trend of need is clear.

The Need

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