K-8 Transportation

Kindergarten Transportation

Transportation Services offers school bus service to all kindergarten students residing over one half mile from their assigned school. Kindergarten students are assigned buses along with grades 1-5. Some special provisions have been put in place to insure the safety of our youngest riders. These include:

a) Each school year all new kindergarten students are provided with a practice ride the week before school opens. Parents are asked to accompany each student on this ride and encouraged to ask questions and become familiar with the driver and the route.

b) Kindergarten students are generally assigned seats in the front of the bus. Should problems arise with the students the driver is closer at hand.

c) Kindergarten students are generally assigned congregated stops with other elementary students. However, under certain circumstance, students may be picked up or dropped off at the student’s residence to insure safety. Should you have a concern regarding your child’s bus stop, please contact Transportation Services.

d) Kindergarten students are required to have an adult present at pick up and drop off locations. Should no one be available to accompany the student, a waiver must be obtained from the school to leave a child unattended.

e) Individual post cards are mailed to all eligible kindergarten students approximately two weeks before the start of school. Schedules include bus number, bus stop, and times.

Elementary Transportation

Elementary transportation is available for all grade 1 through 5 students residing over one mile from their assigned school. Several exceptions have been granted to the eligibility guidelines for safety reasons. They include:

a) Grade 1-5 students attending Lyseth Elementary School living on Allen Ave Extension and on the west side of Allen Ave including streets between Racine Ave and Ray St not eligible by distance.

b) Grade 1-5 students attending Lyseth Elementary School living on Pennell Ave, Short St, Cypress St, Fisher St, Hennessey Ave, and Brewster St not eligible by distance

c) Grade 1-5 students attending Presumpscot School living west of Ocean Ave to Pheasant Hill Rd not eligible by distance.

d) Grade 1-5 students attending East End Community School residing east of Cumberland Ave and southwest of Washington Ave not eligible by distance.

e) Grade K-3 students living in the Parkside area (bordered by Forest Ave, Congress St, St John St and Park Ave) not eligible by distance.

f) Grade K-5 students living on the southwest side of Washington Ave attending Presumpscot School not eligible by distance.

Seating is first come first served, with occasional seat assignments being posted by the driver. Seating is designed to accommodate three elementary students per seat under normal circumstances.

Bus stops for elementary students are designed with safety in mind. Most elementary stops are centralized to accommodate large numbers of students from a specific area. Generally stops are located within one quarter of a mile of a student’s home. Occasionally, as with kindergarten students, safety issues warrant front door stops.

Individual post cards are mailed to all eligible elementary students approximately two weeks before the start of school. Schedules include bus number, bus stop, and times. Schedules may change from year to year based on several factors.

Transportation

Middle Transportation

Middle school transportation is provided for all grade 6 through 8 students who reside over two miles from their assigned school. Exception areas to the two-mile guidelines exist for safety reasons. They include:

a) King Middle School - All grade 6 residents of Kennedy Park and areas north of Franklin Arterial (inbound only)

b) Lincoln Middle School - Forest Ave., from Warren Ave to 1660 Forest Ave., ineligible by distance.

Average ride time for middle school students is approximately 15 minutes. Most middle school bus routes run less than 30 minutes in length and arrive at school generally 15-20 minutes prior to the schools opening.

Seating is first come first served, with occasional seat assignments being posted by the driver. Seating is designed to accommodate two, and in some cases three middle school students per seat under normal circumstances.

Bus stops for middle school students are designed with safety in mind. Most middle school stops are centralized to accommodate large numbers of students. Generally stops are located within one quarter of a mile of a student’s home.

Schedules generally do not change from year to year. Individual post cards are mailed to all eligible middle school students approximately two weeks before the start of school. Schedules include bus number, bus stop, and times.

All middle school students residing on the Casco Bay islands are eligible for transportation to and from King Middle School from the Casco Bay Lines ferry terminal. Each year students are provided with a ferry pass at the start of the school year. The pass contains a picture and pertinent information about the student. Buses leave the ferry terminal at approximately 7:40 a.m. for King Middle School and return at approximately 2:40 p.m. for the return trip. Please see the home page for a link to Casco Bay Lines ferry schedules.

Late busses are scheduled for all after school activities from all Middle Schools.

Special Education Transportation

Special needs students are assigned transportation on an as needed basis. All students not otherwise capable of utilizing regular transportation services, and whose IEP (Individual Education Plan) indicates a need for special bussing, will be provided with transportation resources tailored to the individual needs of the student.

Special needs transportation utilizes specialized vehicles. These vehicles are generally smaller than the conventional school bus and contain such equipment as wheel chair lifts, additional restraint systems, and lower step heights. All special needs school buses are ADA compliant. Special needs routes also have driver assistants on board to help with the myriad of individual needs and possible emergency situations that may arise.

For more information concerning special needs transportation you can contact the learning strategist at your child’s school or the Special Services Department at (207) 874-8134.

Transportation for Island-based Students

Boat passes for the School Year 2024-2025 will be issued on the First Day of School at the Casco Bay Lines Ticket window. Casco Bay Lines has a list of all students enrolled. The cost of the pass is paid for by the Portland School Department.

All Students are required to have their boat pass to get home in the afternoon. In the event the Student does not have their pass the Portland School Department will need to purchase a ticket for that Student. Students will be granted two free tickets per school year when they forget their pass. When this occurs the incident and name of the student will be reported to their school administrators.

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K-8 Transportation

Kindergarten Transportation

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Elementary Transportation

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Transportation

Middle Transportation

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Special Education Transportation

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Transportation for Island-based Students