2014-15 Harford County Public Schools Bus Schedules and Routes Released

From Harford County Public Schools:

2014-15 Harford County Public Schools Bus Schedules and Routes Released
First day of school for grades K-12 is August 25, 2014

School bus schedules and routes for the 2014-15 school year for Harford County Public Schools (HCPS) have been released. The bus schedules are available on the HCPS website (www.hcps.org) by clicking on the bus icon on the left-hand side of the homepage. School is scheduled to open for approximately 38,000 public school students on Monday, August 25, 2014. Approximately 35,000 students will be transported by school buses daily.

Since routes are based on estimated fall enrollments, school officials remind parents and students to expect minor adjustments in bus loads and schedules during the first weeks of school in order to alleviate any overcrowded buses.

A depot bus stop system for school bus transportation is in place for all students attending HCPS magnet programs. Students attending the Science and Mathematics Academy at Aberdeen High School, the Global Studies Program/International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme at Edgewood High School and the Natural Resources and Agricultural Science Magnet Program at North Harford High School will be contacted by postcard with their bus information by August 18, 2014.

Students attending the Alternative Education Program and Harford Technical High School will utilize the consolidated bus stop system and will also be notified of their approximate pick-up time and location by post card.

John Archer School and any elementary Pre-K program students will be contacted by their bus drivers, as will all other students riding a special needs bus, both in county and out-of-county.

Elementary school bus routes are planned so that a maximum number of children are picked up and discharged at the nearest stop to their homes. The bus drivers will inform the children of the designated stops during the first few days of school.

The a.m. time for each bus is the estimated time of the first stop the bus will make on its morning run. This time may vary several minutes during the first few days of school until each driver is able to establish a definitive schedule. Students should plan to be at the bus stop at least five minutes before the scheduled pick-up time. Students attending the Alternative Education Program should plan to be at their designated bus stop at least ten minutes before the scheduled pick up time, and students attending magnet programs (Science and Mathematics Academy at Aberdeen High School, Global Studies Program/International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme at Edgewood High School, Natural Resources and Agricultural Science Magnet Program at North Harford High School) should also plan to be at their bus depot at least ten minutes before the scheduled pick up time. The student’s designated depot stop is their home high school in their attendance area or an alternate authorized high school depot stop. Students who plan to use bus transportation are encouraged to ride the bus beginning the first day of school to facilitate the establishment of the time schedule and the busload.

The p.m. return time to home for each bus may be later at the beginning of the school year to accommodate students adjusting to new school settings. Once the schedule has been established, there will be a normal drop-off time for each student.

The Pupil Transportation Rules will be distributed to each student on the first day of school and discussed in class. Parents are urged to review the rules with their children, which can be found on the HCPS website (www.hcps.org), as well as in the 2014-15 Handbook & Academic Calendar.

Questions or concerns related to specific bus stops or route schedules should be directed to the HCPS Transportation Department at 410-638-4092.