Improving On-Time Bus Service for the 2023-24 School Year
PWCS is changing elementary school bell schedules for the 2023-24 school year to improve on-time bus service.
What are the benefits of changing bell schedules for elementary schools?
- Makes transportation to and from school more consistent and reliable
- Increases number of buses for schools and drivers available for substitute runs – 35 additional buses are for middle school regular routes
- Decreases route times and length of time waiting at bus stops
- Eliminates scheduled double and triple runs
- Improves student attendance
- Reduces the chance of lost instructional time
- Decreases the need for staff to stay after school dismissal for supervision
- Reduces the number of students on each bus, resulting in fewer management challenges for drivers
- Improves accuracy of the Here Comes the Bus app
What are the bell schedules for elementary schools for the 2023-24 school year?
8:45 a.m. - 3:25 p.m. Bell Schedule
| School | Current | 2023-24 | Change (minutes) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alvey | 8:10-2:50 | 8:45-3:25 | 35 |
| Antietam | 8:10-2:50 | 8:45-3:25 | 35 |
| Ashland | 9:00-3:40 | 8:45-3:25 | 15 |
| Bel Air | 8:45-3:25 | 8:45-3:25 | 0 |
| Belmont | 8:15-2:55 | 8:45-3:25 | 30 |
| Bristow Run | 8:45-3:25 | 8:45-3:25 | 0 |
| Cedar Point | 8:45-3:25 | 8:45-3:25 | 0 |
| Dale City | 8:05-2:45 | 8:45-3:25 | 40 |
| Dumfries | 9:00-3:40 | 8:45-3:25 | 15 |
| Glenkirk | 8:45-3:25 | 8:45-3:25 | 0 |
| Innovation | 8:45-3:25 | ||
| Kilby | 9:00-3:40 | 8:45-3:25 | 15 |
| King | 8:45-3:25 | 8:45-3:25 | 0 |
| Marumsco Hills | 9:00-3:40 | 8:45-3:25 | 15 |
| McAuliffe | 8:45-3:25 | 8:45-3:25 | 0 |
| Minnieville | 8:45-3:25 | 8:45-3:25 | 0 |
| Montclair | 9:00-3:40 | 8:45-3:25 | 15 |
| Old Bridge | 8:45-3:25 | 8:45-3:25 | 0 |
| Pattie | 8:05-2:45 | 8:45-3:25 | 40 |
| Potomac View | 9:20-4:00 | 8:45-3:25 | 35 |
| River Oaks | 8:45-3:25 | 8:45-3:25 | 0 |
| Sinclair | 8:15-2:55 | 8:45-3:25 | 30 |
| Springwoods | 8:45-3:25 | 8:45-3:25 | 0 |
| Swans Creek | 8:45-3:25 | 8:45-3:25 | 0 |
| Tyler | 8:45-3:25 | 8:45-3:25 | 0 |
| West Gate | 8:15-2:55 | 8:45-3:25 | 30 |
9:20 a.m. - 4 p.m. Bell Schedule
| School | Current | 2023-24 | Change (minutes) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bennett | 9:10-3:50 | 9:20-4:00 | 10 |
| Buckland Mills | 9:15-3:55 | 9:20-4:00 | 5 |
| Chris Yung | 9:20-4:00 | 9:20-4:00 | 0 |
| Coles | 9:00-3:40 | 9:20-4:00 | 20 |
| Covington-Harper | 9:20-4:00 | 9:20-4:00 | 0 |
| Ellis | 9:00-3:40 | 9:20-4:00 | 20 |
| Enterprise | 9:15-3:55 | 9:20-4:00 | 5 |
| Featherstone | 8:45-3:25 | 9:20-4:00 | 35 |
| Fitzgerald | 9:05-3:45 | 9:20-4:00 | 15 |
| Gravely | 9:05-3:45 | 9:20-4:00 | 15 |
| Haymarket | 9:15-3:55 | 9:20-4:00 | 5 |
| Henderson | 9:00-3:40 | 9:20-4:00 | 20 |
| Jenkins | 9:15-3:55 | 9:20-4:00 | 5 |
| Kerrydale | 9:00-3:40 | 9:20-4:00 | 20 |
| Kyle Wilson | 9:00-3:40 | 9:20-4:00 | 20 |
| Lake Ridge | 9:00-3:40 | 9:20-4:00 | 20 |
| Leesylvania | 9:05-3:45 | 9:20-4:00 | 15 |
| Loch Lomond | 9:10-3:50 | 9:20-4:00 | 10 |
| Marshall | 9:00-3:40 | 9:20-4:00 | 20 |
| Mary Williams | 9:20-4:00 | 9:20-4:00 | 0 |
| Mountain View | 9:15-3:55 | 9:20-4:00 | 5 |
| Mullen | 9:00-3:40 | 9:20-4:00 | 20 |
| Neabsco | 9:20-4:00 | 9:20-4:00 | 0 |
| Occoquan | 9:00-3:40 | 9:20-4:00 | 20 |
| Penn | 9:20-4:00 | 9:20-4:00 | 0 |
| Piney Branch | 9:20-4:00 | 9:20-4:00 | 0 |
| Rockledge | 9:00-3:40 | 9:20-4:00 | 20 |
| Rosa Parks | 9:00-3:40 | 9:20-4:00 | 20 |
| Signal Hill | 9:15-3:55 | 9:20-4:00 | 5 |
| Sudley | 9:00-3:40 | 9:20-4:00 | 20 |
| T. Clay Wood | 9:15-3:55 | 9:20-4:00 | 5 |
| Triangle | 9:00-3:40 | 9:20-4:00 | 20 |
| Vaughan | 9:10-3:50 | 9:20-4:00 | 10 |
| Victory | 8:45-3:25 | 9:20-4:00 | 35 |
| Westridge | 9:10-3:50 | 9:20-4:00 | 10 |
| Yorkshire | 9:10-3:50 | 9:20-4:00 | 10 |
Frequently Asked Questions
- Are bell schedules changing for middle schools, K-8 schools, traditional schools, high schools, or nontraditional schools for the 2023-24 school year?
- No, there are no bell schedule changes for these schools for the 2023-24 school year. View bell schedules for middle schools, K-8 schools, traditional schools, high schools, or nontraditional schools for the 2023-24 school year.
- Is pairing elementary school bell schedules new to PWCS?
- No, PWCS has successfully implemented this paired elementary school model for four schools during the 2022-23 school year. Cedar Point and Chris Yung Elementary Schools, and Bristow Run and Piney Branch Elementary Schools were paired together for the tests.
- How does this impact before and after school care? Will AlphaBEST adjust hours?
- AlphaBEST, PWCS’ school age child care partner, will work with the school’s adjusted bell times to continue providing before and after care for our students.
- How does this impact weather delays?
- All schools will start two hours later than their regularly scheduled start time for a two-hour delay. For example, 10:45 a.m. for schools that normally start at 8:45 a.m. and 11:20 a.m. for schools that normally start at 9:20 a.m.
- How does this impact students receiving special education services who require specialized transportation?
- Students requiring specialized transportation will continue to receive specialized transportation.
- How does this impact drivers' hours?
- The base hours for drivers (6-7.5 hours/day) will not be impacted and overtime needs will decrease.
- What other school divisions use paired bell schedules for elementary schools?
- The Chesapeake City Public Schools, Henrico County Public Schools, Loudoun County Public Schools, Newport News Public Schools, and Virginia Beach City Public Schools currently used paired elementary school bell schedules.
- Where can I view the presentation that was given to the School Board?
- You can view the presentation on Board Docs (PDF).
What are the bell schedules for middle schools, K-8 schools, traditional schools, high schools, or nontraditional schools for the 2023-24 school year?
High Schools
| School | Bell Times |
|---|---|
| Battlefield | 7:25-2:05 |
| Brentsville | 7:25-2:05 |
| Colgan | 7:30-2:10 |
| Forest Park | 7:30-2:10 |
| Freedom | 7:25-2:05 |
| Gainesville | 7:30-2:10 |
| Gar-Field | 7:30-2:10 |
| Hylton | 7:30-2:10 |
| Osbourn Park | 7:30-2:10 |
| Patriot | 7:30-2:10 |
| Potomac | 7:25-2:05 |
| Unity Reed | 7:30-2:10 |
| Woodbridge | 7:30-2:10 |
| The Governor's School | 7:30-11:15 |
Middle Schools
| School | Bell Times |
|---|---|
| Benton | 8:20-3:00 |
| Beville | 8:10-2:50 |
| Bull Run | 8:15-2:55 |
| Fred Lynn | 8:15-2:55 |
| Gainesville | 8:10-2:50 |
| Graham Park | 8:15-2:55 |
| Hampton | 8:20-3:00 |
| Lake Ridge | 8:10-2:50 |
| Marsteller | 8:15-2:55 |
| Parkside | 8:10-2:50 |
| Potomac | 8:15-2:55 |
| Potomac Shores | 8:10-2:50 |
| Reagan | 8:20-3:00 |
| Rippon | 8:10-2:50 |
| Saunders | 8:20-3:00 |
| Unity Braxton | 8:15-2:55 |
| Woodbridge | 8:20-3:00 |
K-8 and Traditional Schools
| School | Full Day |
|---|---|
| The Nokesville School | 8:15-2:55 |
| Pennington | 9:00-3:40 |
| Porter | 9:00-3:40 |
Alternative and Special Education Schools
| School | Bell Times |
|---|---|
| PACE West | 7:20-2:00 |
Independence Nontraditional School
| School | Bell Times |
|---|---|
| The Center (PACE East Program) | 7:45-1:45 |
| Middle and High School Programs Please note that times vary by student. |
Session 1 7:30-11:00 |
| Session 2 10:45-2:30 |
|
| Session 3 2:15-5:30 |
How will PWCS measure success?
- Consistent, on-time arrivals and dismissals
- Student, family, staff, and school community satisfaction
- Driver absenteeism with driver attendance incentive
- Improved student attendance
- Number of assigned per bus
- Length of bus routes
- Behavior/discipline concerns