Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) is committed to proactive and timely communications and updates with parents and guardians regarding their students’ bus transportation.
This webpage outlines ways that PWCS communicates with families regarding bus transportation.
Visit the Bus schedule and route information webpage for information on how to view bus schedules and route information in ParentVUE and StudentVUE.
Bus service is provided for all in-boundary students living more than one mile from school. Students eligible for transportation may be required to walk up to one mile to reach their regular bus stop. Transportation is not provided for students living within a school's established walking boundary.
The Transportation Department is responsible for routing buses in a manner that maximizes safety and efficiency. The department assesses each stop based on established criteria. The Transportation Department is responsible for conducting safety evaluations of bus stops and recommended walking routes through the assessment of traffic conditions, bus accessibility, and walkway design and conditions, as well as other factors such as the time of day and the age of the student.
For efficiency, ride times for students are shorter if buses are kept on main roads and are not sent down every street. Route changes for new students can be more easily accommodated when designated stops are centrally assigned. Minimizing stops also reduces costs for fuel and reduces costs associated with wear and tear of the vehicle.
PWCS EZ A2B bus tracking app provides real-time notifications and map locations for your student’s bus.
Learn how to download, set up, and use the EZ A2B bus tracking app.
Buses that are expected to arrive at least 15 minutes late are listed on the Bus Delays webpage.
Students should arrive at the bus stop at least five minutes before the scheduled arrival time.
Buses that are expected to arrive at least 15 minutes late are listed on the Bus Delays webpage.
If the bus is more than 20 minutes late, you should call the Dispatch Center at 571-402-3940. Your calls are important to us and will be answered in the order they are received.
PWCS strives to provide parents and guardians with timely updates regarding their students’ bus transportation through emails and text messages.
You can receive push notifications when your student’s bus enters the notification zone around your student’s bus stop and school.
You can adjust the radius of the notification zone between 0.3 miles and 5 miles for each location. To increase student privacy, bus tracking is limited to a 5-mile radius around your student’s bus stop.
Be sure that notifications are enabled for the EZ A2B app in your phone’s settings if you would like to receive push notifications.
Parents and guardians may receive email and text message updates when:
Drivers check their buses after every run. If an item is found, it is usually returned to the school at the earliest convenient time or to the student the next morning. If the item is not returned to the school office or directly to your student, please contact the transportation customer service team.
The Transportation Department’s bus operations and customer service team’s hours are 5:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on weekdays.
Parents and guardians are encouraged to contact the transportation customer service team using our online form. Messages received using our online form are tracked to ensure prompt responses.
The transportation customer service team can also be contacted by phone at 571-402-3940. This number will be monitored after hours by the Security and Crisis Readiness Department.
The dispatcher can contact the Transportation Department supervisor, who can assist you. Please be prepared to provide the dispatcher with your student’s name, school, bus number, and a brief summary of your problem.