Designated non-transportation areas are established by the HCPSS Office of Student Transportation in accordance with Board of Education Policy 5200 Student Transportation. The approved distances are utilized as the starting point for the establishment of these areas for each school. The route to school that falls within this distance must meet a reasonable level of safety. This involves the evaluation of adequate sight distance, suitable pathways and crossings, and even considers long-term construction projects.

Update: 06/29/2023

The use of combination bussing (having students from multiple school levels ride the same bus at the same time) will not need to occur this school year. This was being considered to help alleviate the impacts of the bus driver shortage. As a result, elementary school students will ride with elementary school students, middle school students with middle school students, and high school students with high school students.

Howard Community College is aware of the change in HCPSS school start times beginning in the 2023-2024 school year and considerations are being made for student scheduling. Any applicable information will be shared as soon as possible.

Details on HCPSS dual enrollment can be found online.

The start time tiers/groupings were approved by the Board of Education and are not able to be adjusted at this point. 

It is likely that some sporting events will begin 30- or 60-minutes later than their current times. As these and the times for practices are finalized, coaches and schools will communicate final schedules to student-athletes, families and the community.  

Update: August 15, 2023

Update: August 15, 2023

In July 2022, the Board of Education made several changes to Policy 5200 Student Transportation, including a requirement that all students who qualify for bus transportation must register to receive transportation, beginning with the 2023-2024 school year. The mandatory transportation registration process will be available for families to elect in HCPSS Connect Synergy in the spring of 2023.

The HCPSS website has been updated with the 2023-2024 school start times. Families may locate their school’s start time online.  

Start times also can be viewed in the footer of each school website, which can be located online.

On April 15, 2021, the Board of Education directed the Superintendent to review and evaluate the current student school start times and to prepare a recommendation regarding suggested new start times for submission to the Board of Education. The HCPSS Student Transportation Office worked with an independent consultant, Decision Support Group, to analyze current start times, bell schedules and transportation routes and develop a plan that could adjust school opening times.