September 28, 2026
Can a school grocery store boost attendance?
New data shows a grocery store from Kaiser Permanente and Goodr is doing more than feeding families. Since it opened, more kids have been showing up to school.
Kaiser Permanente and Goodr, a nonprofit that addresses hunger and food waste, wanted to help families get the food they need. So, they opened a no-cost grocery store inside C.J. Hicks Elementary School in Conyers, Georgia.
Then something surprising happened. More kids started showing up to class.
Fewer absences, more kids in class
Since the store opened in December 2025, attendance at C.J. Hicks has improved. The school reports:
- Absent days have dropped 43%
- Unexcused absences have dropped 42%
- Students present in class each day rose 26%
Showing up to school matters. Studies show that students with frequent absences are more likely to have lower reading scores, higher dropout rates, and worse health later in life.
How the store supports students and families
Every month, about 200 families visit the store for fresh produce, dairy, meat, shelf-stable foods, and other essential grocery items.
Every month, about 200 families visit the store for fresh produce, dairy, meat, shelf-stable foods, and other essential grocery items.
All items are provided at no cost to students and their families.
According to a 2026 statewide poll, 1 in 3 Georgia families with kids don't have reliable access to enough food, and there aren't many grocery stores in Rockdale County and the surrounding area. Having fresh food right at school makes getting groceries easier for families.
The connection between food and health
The results at C.J. Hicks point to something bigger: A child's health is connected to more than checkups and medicine. It’s connected to everyday things, like having enough to eat.
It's a reminder that care doesn't only happen in a doctor's office. Sometimes it looks like a grocery aisle inside an elementary school.
