Transportation

 Pupil Transportation Services would like to welcome new and returning families to the 2025-2026 school year!

To ensure that all families are prepared for a successful start to their child's transportation services, we would like to provide some essential information.

• Pupil Transportation Services automatically routes all eligible students. There is no need to request services. The district assumes all eligible students will need busing and schedules them for day 1.
• If you have moved, you MUST report your address change either to your child's school or to the Department of Student Services.We encourage families to report these changes as soon as possible. Pupil Transportation Services does not have the authority to change household addresses for your family.
• Postcards will be sent from MPS with your child's busing information the week prior to school starting.
• Electronic notification with your child's busing information will be sent to families on August 29th for all schools following the MPS District Calendar. This ensures that the busing information is as accurate as possible.
• To obtain your child's route information, contact schools or Transportation.

For the first few days of service, please be aware that drivers will be presented with significant challenges as they:

• Navigate new traffic patterns and increases in traffic volume.
• Start to identify and familiarize themselves with new students.
• Collaborate with school staff on arrivals and dismissals.
• Readjust their routes and their times due to requested route changes completed by schools on a family’s behalf.

These challenges will lead to delays, so we thank you for your patience. Rest assured, these delays will be short lived, and families should be confident that their busing will stabilize quickly once companies address these factors.

Please be ready at your stop location 10 minutes prior to your child's pickup time and remain at the stop 10 minutes after the scheduled pickup time.

We recommend that you call the bus/taxi company directly if there is a problem or delay. They will dispatch the driver directly and provide the most accurate information related to the situation. If there are challenges reaching a contractor for any reason, please contact your child's school for assistance. Vendor contact information has been provided.

In addition, district families have access to an exciting app to help track their child’s bus—WheresTheBus! This free app allows families to track their child’s bus in real time. Families can access WheresTheBus from any Internet-enabled device—smartphone, tablet, PC, or iPad. Apple iOS and Android apps are available.

 Traditional school starts on Tuesday, September 2, 2025!

Don't forget to download our free WheresTheBus app!

General Information

Who is eligible for a school bus?

Eligibility for transportation services is governed by MPS Board of School Directors Administrative Policy 4.04. Eligibility is dependent upon the school a student attends and the student's home address. The following criteria is used to determine transportation eligibility:

• Students must have a city of Milwaukee address to qualify for a bus.
• Students must live within the school's transportation zone.
• Students must live outside the walk zone; for students in K-5 and K-8 schools, the walk zone is one mile. Students living inside a school’s walk zone cannot receive transportation.
• K-5 students residing one or more miles from their assigned school, outside of the school's designated attendance area and within the school’s transportation region.
• Students in grades 6-12 must reside two or more miles from their assigned school, outside of the school's attendance area and within the school’s transportation region.

Most schools designate “walk zones,” which typically fall within one or two miles from the school site, depending on grades offered by the school.

Moving- If you move outside of your elementary or middle school transportation region, your child may be provided transportation. If there is no existing bus stop, you must either provide transportation or change your child’s school. You will be asked to select a new school for your child for the following year or to sign a contract that says you will provide transportation.

Bus Stops-Students in grades K3–5 are expected to walk up to 1/4 mile to a safe corner stop. Students in grades 6-12 are expected to walk up to 1/2 mile to a safe corner stop.

Special Education/Access for Persons with Disabilities

Transportation for students with special education needs is provided based upon the student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP). All district schools serve children with special needs; however, not all services are available at all schools. Parents are advised to work closely with their child’s IEP team to determine which schools are best equipped to meet the needs of the child. Children with disabilities must follow the same rules for transportation as other children unless the IEP identifies a specialized transportation need or modification. Parents of children with limited mobility should discuss the accessibility needs of the child with the principal/building administrator of the school they wish the child to attend. Children with special needs are also eligible for the Chapter 220 Voluntary Student Transfer Program and for Public School Open Enrollment program.

Homeless Students

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act defines the homeless as “individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.” This definition includes children and youth whose family has lost housing due to economic difficulties and is sharing the housing of others; who are living in motels, hotels, transitional or emergency shelters; or whose nighttime residence is a place not normally used for housing. Unaccompanied youth and migratory children, who qualify as homeless because they are living in circumstances described above, have the same rights. Homeless children are eligible for and have the right to transportation under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. Homeless children and youth also have the right to stay in the school they attended (the school of origin) prior to becoming homeless.

High School Transportation-Students Greater Than 7 Miles

High Schools students who reside over 7 miles from their current school of attendance, will be issued weekly a WisGo card for use on Milwaukee County Transit System. WisGo card distribution to schools takes place the week prior to student attendance. Pupil Transportation Services will be available to assist with any questions your family may have. MCTS also provides information on their website that details routes, paths, and time for families using MCTS buses. A link has been provided to MCTS Trip Planner https://www.ridemcts.com/trip-planner