Transportation to magnet programs next year and beyond?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think they say that every year.

They didn’t say it when my kid got offered a place two years ago.

They probably did but you didn't pay attention.

This is the same system as this year. They cannot guarantee that every magnet bus stop will stay the same but it is likely. If you are curious what to expect, try to find this year's bus schedule for your magnet and look for the closest stop that works for you. It won't be a regular school bus stop but one of the neighboring MCPS properties (nearby ES, MS, etc.).

No they did not. This year is different. They are not promising transportation

But that's true every year because of the timing of the budget decisions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think they say that every year.

They didn’t say it when my kid got offered a place two years ago.

They probably did but you didn't pay attention.

This is the same system as this year. They cannot guarantee that every magnet bus stop will stay the same but it is likely. If you are curious what to expect, try to find this year's bus schedule for your magnet and look for the closest stop that works for you. It won't be a regular school bus stop but one of the neighboring MCPS properties (nearby ES, MS, etc.).

No they did not. This year is different. They are not promising transportation

But that's true every year because of the timing of the budget decisions.

It’s true this year not only for that reason but because of the changes. Some magnet programs have been more honest about this than others. It is unlikely there will be transportation beyond this coming year, if at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think they say that every year.

They didn’t say it when my kid got offered a place two years ago.

They probably did but you didn't pay attention.

This is the same system as this year. They cannot guarantee that every magnet bus stop will stay the same but it is likely. If you are curious what to expect, try to find this year's bus schedule for your magnet and look for the closest stop that works for you. It won't be a regular school bus stop but one of the neighboring MCPS properties (nearby ES, MS, etc.).

No they did not. This year is different. They are not promising transportation

But that's true every year because of the timing of the budget decisions.

It’s true this year not only for that reason but because of the changes. Some magnet programs have been more honest about this than others. It is unlikely there will be transportation beyond this coming year, if at all.

But the email OP posted is about 2026-27, before any changes would take effect.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think they say that every year.

They didn’t say it when my kid got offered a place two years ago.

They probably did but you didn't pay attention.

This is the same system as this year. They cannot guarantee that every magnet bus stop will stay the same but it is likely. If you are curious what to expect, try to find this year's bus schedule for your magnet and look for the closest stop that works for you. It won't be a regular school bus stop but one of the neighboring MCPS properties (nearby ES, MS, etc.).

No they did not. This year is different. They are not promising transportation

But that's true every year because of the timing of the budget decisions.

It’s true this year not only for that reason but because of the changes. Some magnet programs have been more honest about this than others. It is unlikely there will be transportation beyond this coming year, if at all.

But the email OP posted is about 2026-27, before any changes would take effect.

That’s true but anyone considering a program should proceed with the understanding that transportation is likely not to be an option for all of high school

[Anonymous]

My kid graduated from Blair a couple of years ago, and we got that wording every year.

The buses never changed for my kid, but I would be more likely to believe it now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think they say that every year.

They didn’t say it when my kid got offered a place two years ago.

They probably did but you didn't pay attention.

This is the same system as this year. They cannot guarantee that every magnet bus stop will stay the same but it is likely. If you are curious what to expect, try to find this year's bus schedule for your magnet and look for the closest stop that works for you. It won't be a regular school bus stop but one of the neighboring MCPS properties (nearby ES, MS, etc.).

No they did not. This year is different. They are not promising transportation

But that's true every year because of the timing of the budget decisions.

It’s true this year not only for that reason but because of the changes. Some magnet programs have been more honest about this than others. It is unlikely there will be transportation beyond this coming year, if at all.

But the email OP posted is about 2026-27, before any changes would take effect.

That’s true but anyone considering a program should proceed with the understanding that transportation is likely not to be an option for all of high school

That is not true. When they said they were allowing all current students and incoming students next year to finish out their special programs through graduation, they acknowledged that this would mean they would simultaneously need to service those students countywide as well as students entering into regional models and that it would swell the bus budget and whatnot for a few years before contracting. The truth is that the folks running transportation haven’t designed routes yet and aren’t actually great at coming up with routes that actually service actual students. They just plot points on a map and expect people to pick from the options. I actually think the BOE would be very wise to hire short term consultants to figure this out in the most efficient way because the in house people are out of their depth. It would be completely unacceptable and wholly inequitable to cut off out-of-region transportation starting in Fall 2027. Let’s say you have a current 9th grader living near Churchill who attends the Blair magnet. When this kid applied for and chose this program, the regional situation wasn’t even an idea yet. You can’t say to that kid that in fall 2027 junior year you get no bus options of any kind and you are responsible for getting across county all on your own. They may reduce or condense central stop options but you can’t cut them entirely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think they say that every year.

They didn’t say it when my kid got offered a place two years ago.

They probably did but you didn't pay attention.

This is the same system as this year. They cannot guarantee that every magnet bus stop will stay the same but it is likely. If you are curious what to expect, try to find this year's bus schedule for your magnet and look for the closest stop that works for you. It won't be a regular school bus stop but one of the neighboring MCPS properties (nearby ES, MS, etc.).

No they did not. This year is different. They are not promising transportation

But that's true every year because of the timing of the budget decisions.

It’s true this year not only for that reason but because of the changes. Some magnet programs have been more honest about this than others. It is unlikely there will be transportation beyond this coming year, if at all.

But the email OP posted is about 2026-27, before any changes would take effect.

That’s true but anyone considering a program should proceed with the understanding that transportation is likely not to be an option for all of high school

That is not true. When they said they were allowing all current students and incoming students next year to finish out their special programs through graduation, they acknowledged that this would mean they would simultaneously need to service those students countywide as well as students entering into regional models and that it would swell the bus budget and whatnot for a few years before contracting. The truth is that the folks running transportation haven’t designed routes yet and aren’t actually great at coming up with routes that actually service actual students. They just plot points on a map and expect people to pick from the options. I actually think the BOE would be very wise to hire short term consultants to figure this out in the most efficient way because the in house people are out of their depth. It would be completely unacceptable and wholly inequitable to cut off out-of-region transportation starting in Fall 2027. Let’s say you have a current 9th grader living near Churchill who attends the Blair magnet. When this kid applied for and chose this program, the regional situation wasn’t even an idea yet. You can’t say to that kid that in fall 2027 junior year you get no bus options of any kind and you are responsible for getting across county all on your own. They may reduce or condense central stop options but you can’t cut them entirely.

It is true. They’ve been very clear that transportation may change.

[Anonymous]

It limits the families who can choose to attend with more self-segregation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think they say that every year.

They didn’t say it when my kid got offered a place two years ago.

They probably did but you didn't pay attention.

This is the same system as this year. They cannot guarantee that every magnet bus stop will stay the same but it is likely. If you are curious what to expect, try to find this year's bus schedule for your magnet and look for the closest stop that works for you. It won't be a regular school bus stop but one of the neighboring MCPS properties (nearby ES, MS, etc.).

No they did not. This year is different. They are not promising transportation

But that's true every year because of the timing of the budget decisions.

It’s true this year not only for that reason but because of the changes. Some magnet programs have been more honest about this than others. It is unlikely there will be transportation beyond this coming year, if at all.

But the email OP posted is about 2026-27, before any changes would take effect.

That’s true but anyone considering a program should proceed with the understanding that transportation is likely not to be an option for all of high school

That is not true. When they said they were allowing all current students and incoming students next year to finish out their special programs through graduation, they acknowledged that this would mean they would simultaneously need to service those students countywide as well as students entering into regional models and that it would swell the bus budget and whatnot for a few years before contracting. The truth is that the folks running transportation haven’t designed routes yet and aren’t actually great at coming up with routes that actually service actual students. They just plot points on a map and expect people to pick from the options. I actually think the BOE would be very wise to hire short term consultants to figure this out in the most efficient way because the in house people are out of their depth. It would be completely unacceptable and wholly inequitable to cut off out-of-region transportation starting in Fall 2027. Let’s say you have a current 9th grader living near Churchill who attends the Blair magnet. When this kid applied for and chose this program, the regional situation wasn’t even an idea yet. You can’t say to that kid that in fall 2027 junior year you get no bus options of any kind and you are responsible for getting across county all on your own. They may reduce or condense central stop options but you can’t cut them entirely.

It is true. They’ve been very clear that transportation may change.

Yes transportation may change. The post was responding to the person who said “transportation is likely not to be an option all of high school.” This is not like the magnets at Parkland or Magruder or Whitman where they say you are completely on your own. These programs will and should have some option. It may be limited or inconvenient but it must exist.

[Anonymous]

This year, there are neighborhood stops for magnets in addition to central stops. A week before school started they tried to eliminate the neighborhood stops, basically without telling anyone. There was an outcry and intervention by several BOE members and they added them back. My guess is they have learned from this, and will make the announcement much earlier this year (the regs require changes to be notified to principals by June), so that people can't complain. I'm fully expecting our neighborhood magnet stop to be eliminated next year, unfortunately.

[Anonymous]

Maybe this could be for the better. I don’t want my MS kid riding the bus with HS kids.

OP, who shared that information with you? We had a lot of acknowledgments to sign off on when we accepted our MS magnet spot in January. We would not have chosen to attend if we couldn’t provide transportation. My 11 yo doesn’t need to be catching the bus at 6:33 AM and riding with HS kids.

I have an older child in the DCC attending a different school than our home school because it has the electives they want and it’s actually closer to our house than our home school. It’s also conveniently located on our commutes to work when we have to take the kid to school. There are a ton of HS days where classes don't start until after lunch and they won’t let you arrive at your normal time but you get harassed if you stay home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe this could be for the better. I don’t want my MS kid riding the bus with HS kids.

OP, who shared that information with you? We had a lot of acknowledgments to sign off on when we accepted our MS magnet spot in January. We would not have chosen to attend if we couldn’t provide transportation. My 11 yo doesn’t need to be catching the bus at 6:33 AM and riding with HS kids.

I have an older child in the DCC attending a different school than our home school because it has the electives they want and it’s actually closer to our house than our home school. It’s also conveniently located on our commutes to work when we have to take the kid to school. There are a ton of HS days where classes don't start until after lunch and they won’t let you arrive at your normal time but you get harassed if you stay home.

"A ton" meaning a few?