Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP one thing to consider if you've just moved here is that by taking the bus your DC will meet, or at least see, the kids who live in your neighborhood. My DC was new to MCPS in 9th grade and taking the bus was useful because DC didn't know kids nearby.

No one takes the bus from my neighborhood.

what?

Do they drive their BMWs to school?

Anonymous wrote:And if you don't like the early start time, be sure to go to one of the MCPS meetings on late start to share your feedback. Hopefully start times will be pushed back to 8:15 if the community supports it. See the MCPS website for dates of those community feedback meetings.

Hopefully, they won't.

Anonymous wrote:OP one thing to consider if you've just moved here is that by taking the bus your DC will meet, or at least see, the kids who live in your neighborhood. My DC was new to MCPS in 9th grade and taking the bus was useful because DC didn't know kids nearby.

No one takes the bus from my neighborhood.

Taking your child at 7:15 is fine, although the crowds for drop off are less if you go earlier. My kids walk and like to arrive just before the starting bell.

My child like to get to school with plenty of time to organize books/locker/gear for the day, visit with friends and get to first class without being rushed.

Thank you for the thoughtful replies!

OP one thing to consider if you've just moved here is that by taking the bus your DC will meet, or at least see, the kids who live in your neighborhood. My DC was new to MCPS in 9th grade and taking the bus was useful because DC didn't know kids nearby.

We also recently moved to MoCo, and we drop off our two high schoolers at 7:15 even though they could take the bus. It allows them more time to sleep in the morning and works for us. Lots of kids ride the bus, but many are dropped off too.

Buses arrive early because there are so many buses. They all need time to pull in and let kids off and navigate.

And if you don't like the early start time, be sure to go to one of the MCPS meetings on late start to share your feedback. Hopefully start times will be pushed back to 8:15 if the community supports it. See the MCPS website for dates of those community feedback meetings.

The high schools serve breakfast -when my kid took the bus he ate breakfast and hung out with friends. When we drove we arrived at 7:20. But pp is right that traffic can be a challenge especially at schools where a lot of parents drop off/lots of kids drive. Allow extra time on rainy and cold days because more kids get driven. Now DC drives to school and has to allow extra time to get into the lot and park.

Well in my experience, high school parking lots are a zoo and it takes forever to do drop off. Then there is the need to go to lockers and whatever else they need to accomplish - like see teachers or socialize with friends. I'd plan on getting him or her there no later than 7:10'but I'd also plan at least double the time you expect the drive to take.

I just moved to the area. I see that the start time for HS is 7:25 but the bus schedule shows the buses arrive at 6:55 or 7. I was planning to drive my child to arrive at 7:15, is there a reason I should have him at school by 7 like the kids on the bus?