With Columbus City Schools just under two weeks from returning to classes, here's what parents need to know about the busing situation with the district.
This year, the district expects to bus more than 40,000 students, despite changes approved last year to district busing that now excludes some K-8 students
. The district also expects to run fewer routes this school year as a result of that decision.Here's what you need to know about Columbus City Schools' busing this year.
Parents will see students' routes on Aug. 14
On Aug. 13, families will receive two text messages and an automated phone call in preparation for bus routes becoming available on Aug. 14.
On Aug. 14, parents and guardians will be able to access a portal on Infinite Campus and see their child's bus route and stop.
During
the Back-to-School Resource Fair on Aug. 15, the Office of Student Services plans to distribute more than 2,000 bus route reminder cards.
The district has also launched a busing frequently asked questions (FAQ) page to assist in answering family questions related to transportation.
Busing changes mean the district expects to run fewer routes
According to information provided by the district, CCS plans to run 75 fewer routes than in 2025, down from 494 last year to 419 when school starts this month.
In December, the CCS board voted to discontinue K-8 transportation for students who are lottery-selected into a non-100% lottery school, meaning that students who attend a non-lottery school through the district's lottery system will have to secure their own transportation to get to school during the 2026-2027 school year.
The change is expected to impact thousands of students in the state's largest district of more than 45,000 students and save Columbus City Schools more than $8.5 million. The decision was part of more than $50 million in cuts to close a budget deficit.
A district statement said that since the K-8 change, it has seen some students choose to return to their neighborhood schools as opposed to lottery schools, but many stayed, with parents saying they'd handle their own students' transportation.
"Having more students attend neighborhood schools is a positive and reduces routes and costs," the CCS statement said.
Additionally, the district currently has 400 active drivers this school year and more than 50 contract drivers, although the district is aiming to have 500 drivers on staff.
Cole Behrens covers K-12 education and school districts in central Ohio. Have a tip? Contact Cole at cbehrens@dispatch.com or connect with him on X at @Colebehr_report
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Here's what parents need to know about CCS busing before school starts
