Our Transportation Department is responsible for the safe and efficient transport of students. Our bus drivers follow all state regulations regarding school bus operation and traffic laws. You can rest easy knowing that your child’s safety is our top priority.
You may reach the Transportation Department at 804-365-6520.
More information on 2025-26 transportation registration can be found below:
New Bus Rider or Non-Bus Rider
Below are frequently asked questions and answers regarding transportation service for new or non-bus riders that were not assigned to a bus or scheduled for school transportation services during the 2024-25 school year. If you will be providing your child with transportation to and from school, nothing else needs to be done.
If you intend on using school bus transportation for the 2025-26 school year, please see the following information below. (For new kindergarten students, if you have already submitted a transportation request for the 2025-26 school year, nothing else needs to be done).
Is my child eligible for school bus transportation?
Hanover County Public Schools will provide transportation services for eligible students who request transportation to and from their residence address. It is important that you maintain an accurate residence address for every student attending school. Only addresses on file, with the school, in PowerSchool, are used to set up transportation services for students. Any changes to your student’s address must be submitted to the school. Students are eligible for transportation, by school bus, provided they live within the attendance area of the school they attend.
Students attending school on a variance are not eligible for transportation services. Students that maintain a parking pass, which allows them to drive to and from school, will not be assigned to a bus route. Students in special programs are subject to different criteria.
How do I register my child for school bus transportation?
To request transportation services for your student(s), the student must be registered at the school prior to any new transportation service or changes to transportation service. Service will be provided to/from an address on file with the school (within PowerSchool). Changes will only apply to school bus services within your child's school attendance zone. All requests for morning or evening services must be for five days per week.
2025-26 Transportation Request Form
Additional forms can be found here: https://hcps.us/departments/transportation/forms
For the 2025-26 school year, how will I know if my child’s bus stop and bus route assignment?
One week prior to the start of school, your child’s school bus assignment will be viewable in PowerSchool, HCPS’s student information system. At that time, you will be able to see your students' bus stop times, bus route number and assigned pick-up/drop-off locations.
What if we are moving?
If you are moving and have a change of address, you must first notify the child’s school of the change and then you must submit a new transportation service request. Service will be provided to/from an address on file with the school (within PowerSchool).
I have a special needs student that received specialized transportation this year, what is the process for registration?
Parents of special needs students will need to continue to plan educational services with their child’s school or program administrator, to include transportation services.
My child may ride the school bus sporadically, can this be accommodated?
Students that do not use bus transportation for 20 consecutive school days will be removed from the bus route during the monthly bus route revision process. Schools can provide emergency transportation bus passes, at the discretion of the principal or his/her designee.
Bus Stop De-Assignment & Bus Stop Re-Establishment
In order to re-establish bus transportation, parents submit a new transportation request
Once the request has been made, staff will follow the process below:
Transportation will receive electronic notification of the request and will assign the student(s) to a bus route and stop location. Once assigned, parents will be able to see the bus stop information on the PowerSchool Parent Portal App.
Processing times are as follows:
- Assignment to an existing stop – 1 to 3 business days
- New bus stop location assignment – 3 to 5 business days
Can my Elementary School child ride the bus to an after-school care provider?
Transportation may be available if there is an existing stop on an existing run which services your child’s school. There are several conditions that must be met in order for your child to receive alternate transportation services.
Alternate Bus Stop Request Form
- The child must be enrolled in a HCPS Elementary School.
- The address for the location must be on record and recorded in PowerSchool.
- The address must be within the attendance zone for your child’s school.
- There must be adequate seating/space on the school bus. We can only accommodate a request if there is space available on an existing bus route. Additionally, for all alternate bus stop requests, the permission may be rescinded if the bus no longer has capacity because ridership increases at a later date.
- Service must be for five-days a week.
- For child care businesses, the location and business must be one that is currently receiving bus transportation services. Check with your child’s school for an approved list of locations.
- You must submit an Alternate Bus Stop Request using the form online.
- There is no guarantee that the request will be approved simply because the form was submitted. Transportation will be verifying that there is room on the bus and that the stop falls along the existing route path.
- HCPS Pre-K – 2nd Grade Alternate Bus Stop Request: Alternate Bus Stop Request Form for K-2nd
I have shared custody of my child. Can my child receive transportation services to and from both locations?
Services will only apply to school bus services within your child's school attendance zone. If the other guardian or parent resides outside of your child’s school attendance zone, service will not be provided. The addresses of both guardians having custody of the child must be in PowerSchool. Parents must submit an Alternate Bus Stop Request for this service. https://hcps.us/departments/transportation/forms
Can my child have a different morning and afternoon bus stop?
Students may be assigned different morning and afternoon bus assignments, but any bus assignment must be for 5 days a week. Students with alternate stops due to a custody arrangement are an exception. Any bus assignment must be within that child’s school attendance zone. The address for the location must be on record and recorded in PowerSchool.
Example: AM bus stop is from Home, PM bus stop is to childcare. Both must be for 5 days a week.
Why does my child need to be received by an adult at the school bus stop?
Hanover County Public Schools Regulation 4-4.2(A) requires an adult to be present to discharge a 2nd grade or younger student from the bus.
My child has an older sibling that rides the school bus with him/her, how can I obtain a waiver for this requirement?
Guardians may submit a request to waive this requirement. Your request for a release waiver will be evaluated by the Department of Transportation.
If your release waiver is approved, you will be required to visit your child's school to sign the approved waiver. A transportation official will contact you with an effective start date. https://hcps.us/departments/transportation/forms
Current Bus Rider
If your child is currently assigned to a school bus route, he/she will be automatically assigned to a bus route for the 2025-26 school year (this does not apply to special education services). Students transitioning from elementary to middle to high will be assigned to the respective bus routes.
What if we do not intend to use school bus services next year?
If you do not intend to use school bus services for the 2025-26 school year, please submit a cancellation of services request using the following form.
Transportation Request Form
For the 2025-26 school year, how will I get my child’s bus stop and bus route assignment information?
One week prior to the start of school, your child’s school bus assignment will be viewable in PowerSchool, HCPS’s student information system. At that time, you will be able to see your students' bus stop times, bus route number and assigned pick-up/drop-off locations.
What if we are moving?
If you are moving and have a change of address, you must first notify the child’s school of the change and then you must submit a new transportation service request. Service will be provided to/from an address on file with the school (within PowerSchool).
I have a special needs student that received specialized transportation this year, what is the process for registration?
Parents of special needs students will need to continue to plan educational services with their child’s school or program administrator, to include transportation services.
My child may ride the school bus sporadically, can this be accommodated?
Students that do not use bus transportation for 20 consecutive school days will be removed from the bus route during the monthly bus route revision process. Schools can provide emergency transportation bus passes, at the discretion of the principal or his/her designee.
Bus Stop De-Assignment & Bus Stop Re-Establishment
In order to re-establish bus transportation, parents submit a new transportation request
Once the request has been made, staff will follow the process below:
Transportation will receive electronic notification of the request and will assign the student(s) to a bus route and stop location. Once assigned, parents will be able to see the bus stop information on the PowerSchool Parent Portal App.
Processing times are as follows:
- Assignment to an existing stop – 1 to 3 business days
- New bus stop location assignment – 3 to 5 business days
Can my Elementary School child ride the bus to an after-school care provider?
Transportation may be available if there is an existing stop on an existing run which services your child’s school. There are several conditions that must be met in order for your child to receive alternate transportation services.
Alternate Bus Stop Request
- The child must be enrolled in a HCPS Elementary School.
- The address for the location must be on record and recorded in PowerSchool.
- The address must be within the attendance zone for your child’s school.
- There must be adequate seating/space on the school bus. We can only accommodate a request if there is space available on an existing bus route. Additionally, for all alternate bus stop requests, the permission may be rescinded if the bus no longer has capacity because ridership increases at a later date.
- Service must be for five-days a week.
- For child care businesses, the location and business must be one that is currently receiving bus transportation services. Check with your child’s school for an approved list of locations.
- You must submit an Alternate Bus Stop Request using the form online.
- There is no guarantee that the request will be approved simply because the form was submitted. Transportation will be verifying that there is room on the bus and that the stop falls along the existing route path.
- HCPS Pre-K – 2nd Grade Alternate Bus Stop Request: Alternate Bus Stop Form
I have shared custody of my child. Can my child receive transportation services to and from both locations?
Services will only apply to school bus services within your child's school attendance zone. If the other guardian or parent resides outside of your child’s school attendance zone, service will not be provided. The addresses of both guardians having custody of the child must be in PowerSchool. Parents must submit an Alternate Bus Stop Request for this service. https://hcps.us/departments/transportation/forms
Can my child have a different morning and afternoon bus stop?
Students may be assigned different morning and afternoon bus assignments, but any bus assignment must be for 5 days a week. Students with alternate stops due to a custody arrangement are an exception. Any bus assignment must be within that child’s school attendance zone. The address for the location must be on record and recorded in PowerSchool.
Example: AM bus stop is from home, PM bus stop is to childcare. Both must be for 5 days a week.
Why does my child need to be received by an adult at the school bus stop?
Hanover County Public Schools Regulation 4-4.2(A) requires an adult to be present to discharge a 2nd grade or younger student from the bus.
My child has an older sibling that rides the school bus with him/her, how can I obtain a waiver for this requirement?
Guardians may submit a request to waive this requirement. Your request for a release waiver will be evaluated by the Department of Transportation.
If your release waiver is approved, you will be required to visit your child's school to sign the approved waiver. A transportation official will contact you with an effective start date. https://hcps.us/departments/transportation/forms