Transportation

No, except in the case of students receiving special education services, school bus transportation is a privilege, not a right. Transportation is a service that Fort Worth ISD elects to provide

To be eligible for transportation, a student must live within the boundaries of Fort Worth ISD and meet one of the following requirements:

• Students who live two miles or more from the assigned school or a Program of Choice school to which the student has applied and has been accepted.
• Special education students, ages 3 through 21, whose disabilities prevent the use of regular transportation.

Refer to Board Policy CNA and EHBAC for more details on eligibility.

Transportation is provided to students living within the boundaries of Fort Worth ISD if the program is not offered at the home school. Bus stop locations are as follows:

• Elementary Schools of Choice (SOC) and Programs of Choice (POC) bus stop locations will be at elementary school campuses.
• Middle school SOC and POC bus stop locations will be at middle school campuses.
• High school SOC and POC bus stop locations will be at middle school campuses.

Click for Bus Route Details.

Students may be required to walk up to half a mile to a bus stop. Bus stops are placed at centralized locations that can be safely accessed by all eligible students to minimize the time, length, and mileage of the run. Additionally, bus stops are selected so the bus can be safely maneuvered during the route.

If you have concerns about your child's safety, you are encouraged to accompany your child to the bus stop, have another family member do so, or arrange a neighborhood buddy team to walk with your child. It is the parent's/guardian's responsibility to manage their safety to and from the bus stop.

Our district is constantly growing and neighborhoods may change. Some students move from elementary to secondary schools, new students may move in and others may move out. Routes are evaluated annually, planned for efficiency, and stops are placed in locations to be accessed by all eligible students within established guidelines.

Your child should arrive at the stop at least 5 minutes before the posted route time of the bus. If the bus is late, ask your child to remain at the stop for at least 15 minutes.

During the first few weeks of the school year or when there is a substitute driver, times may not be consistent with the posted route times. Traffic, weather, road construction, delays at other bus stops, or mechanical issues may occur, but there will always be a bus at every stop. If the wait becomes extreme (more than 15 minutes), please contact Transportation at 817.815.7900.

All of our buses are equipped with air conditioning. Drivers are instructed to continuously run the A/C to keep the bus as cool as possible, but Texas is known for high temperatures. As we open and close the door repeatedly to allow students on and off the bus, the cool air is released, making it hard to maintain a low bus temperature.

There are times when the A/C unit is not functioning properly. The repair of air conditioning units is a top priority, but may be delayed while waiting for proper parts.

School bus sizes are stated in terms of total passenger capacity. Maximum capacity allows three per seat. In Fort Worth ISD, it is assumed that elementary school students will ride three per seat. Secondary school students are assumed to ride two to three per seat. If the bus has three elementary school students or two to three secondary school students per seat, it will seem crowded, but it will not be over the maximum capacity. It is our goal to fully utilize all the space on the buses in our fleet.

No, all items brought on the bus must fit in the student’s lap. Please make special arrangements for transporting large articles such as large band instruments, large projects, or any other item that would take up another student’s seat.

For additional prohibited items, please refer to the Bus Rider Safety Guide in English or Spanish.

The Transportation communication center can be reached at 817.815.7900. If your call is not answered within 4 rings, it will be redirected to other office staff phone lines. Please stay on the line and we will assist you as quickly as possible.

Concerns related to student discipline at the bus stop or on the bus can be directed to the campus administration at your child’s school.

For additional information, please review our Bus Rider Safety Guide in English or Spanish.