North Tippah School Cafeterias Earn A Health Ratings
All four North Tippah cafeterias earned an A rating after an unannounced visit from the Mississippi State Department of Health, the North Tippah School District announced Wednesday. The district said the kitchens at Chalybeate Elementary, Falkner Elementary, Falkner High School and Walnut Attendance Center each received the top grade.
The district shared the news on its website and Facebook page on Sept. 30, thanking cafeteria managers and staff for the work they put in every day to feed students across the northern half of Tippah County.
North Tippah Cafeterias Pass Surprise Inspection
According to the district, state health inspectors made a surprise visit to its school cafeterias. Every kitchen in the district came away with an A.
The schools that earned the rating:
- Chalybeate Elementary in the Chalybeate community
- Falkner Elementary in Falkner
- Falkner High School in Falkner
- Walnut Attendance Center in Walnut
In its announcement, the district asked the community to join in congratulating the cafeteria teams, saying their hard work shows. Parents responded on Facebook with thanks, and several singled out Tina Dowdy, who is listed on the district website as Director of Child Nutrition.
What an A Rating Means in Mississippi
The Mississippi State Department of Health grades food facilities, including school cafeterias, after each inspection. The department explains its grades this way:
- Grade A: no critical violations were found during the inspection.
- Grade B: critical violations were found but corrected while the inspector was on site.
- Grade C: critical violations were found and some or all were not corrected during the inspection. Permits can be suspended if they are not fixed in the required time.
Critical violations are the problems most likely to make someone sick, such as food held at unsafe temperatures, poor handwashing or cross-contamination. An A means inspectors found none of those issues at the time of the visit.
Meals and Help for North Tippah Families
The North Tippah School District serves breakfast and lunch at each of its campuses. The district’s Child Nutrition department posts monthly menus and an online free and reduced-price meal application on its website. Families who have not applied for the 2026-2027 school year can still do so at any time if their household situation changes.
Questions about school meals can go to the Child Nutrition office at 662-837-8450.
The good news for the district’s kitchens comes during a busy fall for North Tippah schools, with Walnut and Falkner teams in the thick of volleyball and football season.
Related: Walnut Wins Tippah County Volleyball Tournament | South Tippah Schools Hiring Cafeteria Substitutes
Source: North Tippah School District
