This study was designed to assess the iron nutritional status and growth development of children provided with and without the national school -lunch program(NLSP). The subjects consisted of 590 elementary school children (313 boys, 277 girls) in the 2nd, 4th and 6th grades provided with (n=390) and without (n=200) NSLP. anthropometric measurements were taken for body weight, height, triceps skinfold thickness and body fat percentage. Nutrient intakes were assessed by a modified 24 -hour recall method. Fastinig blood samples were obtained and analyzed for hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, serum iron and total iron binding capacity. The results obtained are summarized as follows. No significant differences between children provided with and without NSLP were found in height and body weight, but triceps skinfold thickness and body fat(%) were significantly higher in children without NSLP than in those with NSLP. There was no significant difference in hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit between children provided with and without NSLP. However, serum iron concentration and transferrin saturation were higher in the children provided with NSLP(81.9$mu extrm{g}$/dl and 22.8%) than in the children without NSLP(73.1$mu extrm{g}$/dl and 20.9%). When comparing iron and vitamin C intakes , iron intake was significantly higher in children provided with school-lunch, but vitamin C intake was significantly higher in children provided without school-lunch. Percentages of iron -deficient anemia in underweight, normal and obese children when judged by total iron binding capacity were 14.9%, 12.5% and 25.8% respectively.