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School Bus Transportation - Frequently Asked Questions

Q What time does my child need to be waiting at his/her morning stop?
A Call the local district.  They will give parents/guardians an approximate time for morning arrival.  Parents should have their child ready 10 minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive.

Q Will the bus leave the stop without my child if she/he is not waiting at the bus stop location?
A Yes! The student must be waiting at his/her stop at least 10 minutes prior to the designated time, regarless of weather conditions.

Q What time will the bus arrive to pick up my child?
A The morning times for bus runs will usually depend on certain variables. Most importantly, distance and traffic patterns play the most predominate role in morning bus arrival times. Please call the appropriate district for that information. The district will contact the driver who knows the route for your child, the driver informs the district representative, and he/she communicates that relevant information to the student’s parents.

Q What time will the bus arrive at the afternoon drop-off point?
A The drop-off times for afternoon bus runs usually depend on distance, traffic, weather, and other related issues.  In most instances, the further the location of the student’s home from the school site, the greater amount of time the student will probably spend commuting to and from school. The goal is for students to spend not more than 90 minutes on any bus route. If that situation occurs, please call your local district.

Q What are my options if my child misses the bus in the morning due to no fault of his/her own?
A Call your local busing district immediately. 

Q Who do I call if I believe that my child’s bus stop location is not in compliance?
A Call the district nearest you and inform them of the problem. Also, download the Transportation Service Request Form , or pick it up from a WCPSS school, and send the information to Dorothy D'Angelo (, fax: 919-856-8063) or mail it to Wake County Public Schools Transportation, Attention: Dorothy D'Angelo, 1551 Rock Quarry Road, Raleigh, NC 27610.

Q What is the process for requesting an afternoon bus stop location that is different from the morning stop location?
A Call the appropriate district.

Q What will I do or who will I call when my child will only ride the bus during the morning commute or the afternoon commute?
A 1. Call the district where your child rides and inform the transportation representatives.

Q What will I do when my child stops riding for an extended length of time? (5 days or more)
A Inform the child’s local transportation.

Q What is the maximum allowable walking distance for students to bus stops by law?
A State law says that 1 mile is the maximum allowable walking distance. The Wake County Board of Education has adopted a policy of three-tenths of a mile for elementary students and five-tenths of a mile for middle and high school students as the maximum walking distance to bus stops.

Q What happens if my child breaks the bus rules?
A Consequences for inappropriate behavior on the bus depends on the infraction. Consequences may range from driver/student conference, change of seating, to removal from the bus. In situations where the infraction is significant, drivers will write disciplinary referrals and refer to the appropriate grade level administrator.

The following types of conduct or violation of any other rule of the Code of Student Conduct while on the school bys or other school vehicle is specifically prohibited and may result in temporary or permanent suspension from school transportation services or from school:

Also refer to School Bus Safety Tips for Students.

Q What is the appeals process for parents who question consequences given their child for inappropriate behavior on the bus?
A Expectations for behavior on the bus are the same as for those during regular school hours.  See the student conduct code in the Student Agenda. Understand school transportation is a privilege, not a right. Students shall observe the directives of the school bus driver at all times while riding the school bus or other school vehicle.

Appeals should be directed to the school personnel responsible for student discipline.