Throughout the world, food security has been a persistent issue that is present in many people’s lives. Previous literature has found that food insecurity negatively impacts children’s physical, social, and cognitive development (Gunderson et al., 2011; Cook et al., 2008; Jyoti et al., 2005; Alaimo et al., 2011; Glewwe et al., 2001; Winicki & Jemison, 2003). This paper investigates how food insecurity hinders academic growth in first grade students throughout the United States. By using survey data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study Program (ECLS K:2011), this study explores the relationship between a child’s growth in math and reading scores in the first grade and their food security status. My study confirms that food insecurity does result in slower academic growth in math but did not significantly impact growth in reading scores.