Transportation
Ensuring students arrive and depart safely to and from school each day is a top priority for Orange County Schools. After all, safe buses and travel routes help every student arrive on time and fully prepared to receive high-quality instruction!
Transportation Requests
Bus Transportation Requests for the 2025-2026 school year are now open!
To request bus transportation for your child, please complete this form or call the Transportation Department (919-732-2531).
submit a new request for bus transportation
If you moved or your child is attending a new school, you will also need to submit a request.
BUS RIDERS: Information will be sent home during the week before students return to school with each child’s bus number, and the times and locations for morning pick-up and afternoon drop-off. Your route information is also available in your Infinite Campus parent portal.
Stay tuned to your email for updates!
Reminder for Voluntary Transfer or Reassignment
Bus transportation is NOT offered for students who are approved for a voluntary transfer to a school that is not their assigned school (by domicile address).
Questions?
If you have any questions about your child's bus assignment, do not hesitate to call OCS Transportation (919-732-2531) Monday through Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (summer hours: 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.) or contact your child's school.
Overview
Each day, more than 3500 students ride a school bus operated by the Orange County Schools Transportation Department. Each year the district’s buses travel more than 1,258,151 miles. The Transportation Department employs 64 bus drivers, eight technicians who work in Hillsborough and Chapel Hill, and six office staff.
The Orange County Transportation Department oversees the operation of 142 school buses. In addition, the district has additional activity buses that are also used to transport students to field trips and sporting events.
Board Policies for OCS Bus Transportation
Board Policy 4305: OCS Code of Student Conduct
Board Policy 6300: Goals of Student Transportation Services
Board Policy 6305: Safety and Student Transportation Services
2025-2026 OCS Bus Transportation Guidelines for all staff, students, and families:
OCS Transportation Parent/Student Guidelines
OCS Guia de Transporte y Expectativas para Padres y Estudiantes
Bus Information
Transportation FAQ's
- I moved over the weekend. Who do I contact to get a new bus assignment for my child?
- Can my child use one stop in the morning and another one in the afternoon?
- Can a stop be set for afterschool care for my child?
- Whose responsibility is it to inform me that my child’s bus was going to be 1½ hours late?
- Who is responsible for informing me that the stop was moved/different route/different drop off or pick up time?
- There is a special education stop located next door to me going to the same school. Can my child ride that bus instead of walking a mile to the current stop?
- Can I drive my child to an alternative bus stop?
I moved over the weekend. Who do I contact to get a new bus assignment for my child?
Can my child use one stop in the morning and another one in the afternoon?
Can a stop be set for afterschool care for my child?
Whose responsibility is it to inform me that my child’s bus was going to be 1½ hours late?
Who is responsible for informing me that the stop was moved/different route/different drop off or pick up time?
There is a special education stop located next door to me going to the same school. Can my child ride that bus instead of walking a mile to the current stop?
Can I drive my child to an alternative bus stop?
Come drive with us!
We Need You
If you are interested in driving a school bus for Orange County Schools in Hillsborough, North Carolina, please call or email Nakia Allen nakia.allen@orange.k12.nc.us OR Wanda Bain wanda.bain@orange.k12.nc.us for more information.
Before becoming a school bus driver for the district, drivers must meet strict requirements. They include, but are not limited to:
- At least 18 years old.
- Possess a valid NC CDL (Commercial Driver's License) with P (Passenger) and S (School Bus) Endorsements and a clean driving record.
- Pass a pre-employment criminal background check.
- Pass a pre-employment drug test.
- School Bus Driver Training Checklist:
- For those drivers that are new to North Carolina, or that reside in North Carolina, but do not have a CDL, training classes are mandatory prior to getting behind the wheel. All candidates are pre-screened before inviting them to the training classes. Below is a brief summary of the process.
- Apply to Orange County Schools http://www.orangecountyfirst.com/careers
- Background check.
- Selected to attend training class by interview panel.
- Successfully pass written tests for their Commercial Driver's License.
- Pass a pre-employment drug test.
- Obtain a DOT Medical Card.
- Obtain a Class B Learner's Permit and hold for 14 days.
- Successfully pass three days of on-the-road training with DMV Driver Trainer.
- All criteria listed above must also be met before employment.
Please Read...
Bus Driver Salary and Benefit Information
For more information on salary and benefits with Orange County Schools, visit OCS Human Resources on the web.