Students at Jackson County and Pascagoula school districts will be paying more for meals in the upcoming school year.

School nutrition officials said the districts are dealing with the same soaring prices for fuel, food and other commodities that the average consumer faces at every trip to the gas station or grocery store.

Pascagoula School District decided to raise prices for most meals by 25 cents to offset price increases for food prices and food production supplies.

The last time the Pascagoula School District increased meal prices was 10 years ago for elementary students and eight years ago for secondary students.

Lark Christian, food services director for the Jackson County School District, said her district decided to raise all regular meal prices for students and adults by 10 cents.