Since Aug. 2002,49 school canteens in Xintai have been managed by classifying them into different grades according to a scoring system. Compared with the sanitary conditions before using the new mode of management,their sanitary management,basic sanitary facilities and the sanitary practices in food processing and serving have improved a lot. The underlying problems affecting the sanitary condition of the school canteens were identified in the process of scoring. It is concluded that the new mode of management is more formal and practical. The graded management system can play an important and active part in supervising schools and departments of public service. It can also play an important part in propagandizing food sanitation and enhancing legal supervision on food safety in schools.