Welcome Back Lions!! As you know, we are operating under a new school schedule this year which may impact transportation patterns regarding access to school grounds. Provided is information pertaining to transportation procedures for Howard High School.

• The roadway in the front of the building is the bus lane for our school. Only buses and authorized personnel should access this area from 7 am until 4 pm each school day. Students are unloading from buses and not always cognizant of approaching traffic, creating a potentially unsafe environment for them.
• Parents transporting their students should use the student drop off lane located in front of the main parking lot in front of the school. 
• When using the student drop off lane, drivers should pull up as far towards the end of the roadway as possible before unloading students to enable other vehicles to do so as well.
• Students should not be dropped off in front of the auditorium entrance as it denies school buses access to the area and impedes the progress of traffic entering school grounds. 
• Drivers heading westbound on Route 108 should only access the school grounds using the far-right lane closest to the building to make a right turn.  Right turns made from the center lane are unsafe, unlawful, and contribute to accidents near the school. 
• Parents should not be using the senior parking lot as a drop off area for students instead of the designated location. It is unsafe for students exiting their vehicles and impedes access to the parking lot for both students and staff.
• School buses have the right of way both during school arrival and dismissal. Please plan accordingly as it may result in delays during your departure. 
• Walk areas for students have been expanded for the majority of HCPSS schools for the 2023-2024 school year.  Board of Education Policy 5200 Student Transportation increases the allowable distance students may walk to school based on the distance between a student’s home and school. As a result, students’ distance for students in Grades 9-12 is 2.0 miles. Please reference the HCPSS website about walking to school safely to review some tips provided by HCPSS to discuss with your student(s). 
• Drivers should be aware that numerous students are bicycle riders and may need to use the roadways at various locations as a transportation route.  Please exercise caution as students may not always be cognizant of traffic near them. 

Parking on School Grounds

• All vehicles on school grounds during the school day must display a parking permit issued by the school. 
• Students should only park in spaces designated for students. All staff and student parking spaces are marked to distinguish for whom the spaces are intended.  Staff parking spaces are closest to the building in the main parking lot and are marked with yellow lines. Students’ spaces are closer to Route 108 or in the senior parking lot and are marked with white lines.  
• Signs have been posted in the parking lot notifying drivers that parking permits are required.  Additionally, administrative consequences may ensue for students who fail to comply.

HoHS Aerial Transportation Map

Parking Permits for Seniors

Parking permits will be made available to seniors at the start of the school year. Notifications will be shared as to when students are able to obtain them. Seniors interested in obtaining one must provide their completed application, copy of their license, and copy of their vehicle registration.  Seniors should submit their materials to Ms. Maureen Taylor in the main office to receive consideration.  Students are not guaranteed a permit due to limited spacing and will be based upon the demand for those trying to acquire one. The application fee will be required upon selection. Permit availability for juniors will be assessed later based upon the remaining space capacity once seniors have been accommodated.

HCPSS updates

Board of Education Policy 5200 Student Transportation increases the allowable distance students may walk to school based on the distance between a student’s home and school. As a result, non-transportation areas (walk areas) have been expanded for the majority of HCPSS schools for the 2023-2024 school year.

For students who were eligible and have registered for transportation, bus stop information for the 2023-2024 school year is now available.  This information can be accessed online via the Bus Stop Locator or HCPSS Connect Synergy under More Options and then Homeroom / Transportation / POS. 

Once bus stops are established for the school year, bus routes and schedules are subject to change. Changes to bus stop locations are made on an ongoing basis as routes are designed and/or revised. The location and times listed online include the most up to date information.

Please note

With some school start times overlapping across school levels and/or transportation exemptions, it is possible that buses for different schools will arrive at bus stops around the same time. Please review your child’s bus number and be sure they know it and check before boarding the bus.