Sometimes there is another spot on the same route that might be a block or two farther walk but 15 mins later in the bus route if the route is very twisty. Might be easier than driving to school..

Anonymous wrote: Just the way it was. It won't kill your child.

I don't really think that's the point. I just figure there are better ways for my DC to spend time than sitting on a school bus.

Wow, that seems excessive. I'd definitely ask around about carpooling, or is there any way you can drive DC yourself? At least one way?

10-15 mins. School is 2-3 miles away. They arrive about 20 mins before school starts.

I've known kids in middle and high school who needed to catch their bus at 5:45am with a 7:20 school starting time.

Anonymous wrote:30 minutes (Elem. School). Too long, I think, b/c we're just about 3/4 mile from the school...but the route is very convoluted. Considering just driving them this year.

How big is the school's walk zone? That's ridiculous.

30 minutes (Elem. School). Too long, I think, b/c we're just about 3/4 mile from the school...but the route is very convoluted. Considering just driving them this year.

Anonymous wrote:So your kids must be the first picked up and the last dropped off? Maybe you could figure out a carpool schedule with other parents.

Yes. I guess I'm just spoiled because last year it was the reverse -- last picked up and first dropped off, so his commute was only 20 minutes, which seems reasonable.

Not too many parents with whom to carpool unfortunately. But I might check around.

Anonymous wrote:My 5th grader is at a FCPS GT center that dismisses at 3:55, she arrives home around 4:45 most days, but there have been a few occasions where it was as late as 5:15.

One of my kids would go crazy spending that much time on the bus every day. How far away is the GT center from your house?

So your kids must be the first picked up and the last dropped off? Maybe you could figure out a carpool schedule with other parents.

Yes, it is a specialty school. But the school is only 12 - 15 minutes away! No it won't kill my child to be commuting 2 hours each day. But I sure woudln't enjoy that kind of commute!

That would happen at a AAP center b/c kids are coming from many different base schools. Most elementary schools would be 20-30 mins tops.

However, when I was growing up, the bus ride was always an hour. Just the way it was. It won't kill your child.

My 5th grader is at a FCPS GT center that dismisses at 3:55, she arrives home around 4:45 most days, but there have been a few occasions where it was as late as 5:15.

thats crazy; what school system?

Our new bus schedules are out and my children will be on the school bus 55 minutes each way! Seems too long to me; I wondered if others have their kids commute such a long time.