Yes, I used different bus stops depending on schedule

Yes you can go to any stop. We used two different ones depending on the plan for the day. My child did activities both at the center (less convenient pick up) and at home school (missed the first few minutes). You get a double selection..

Does anyone know if the bus people are flexible about the bus you get picked at. For example, would we we able to take our child to a stop at an ES on the way to work instead of our local ES.

Plenty of kids take the bus and do activities- that's a total cop out. If your kid can't handle the work and activities, choose one or the other- but most can. Take a look at the kids at Blair, RM and Poolesville- they do a ton!

Buses for all the centers. If you're complaining about the HGC commute, you'll never be able to do the MS or HS Magnets. My kids furthest away from all schools, but wanted to do the programs- so they don't complain. Motivated kids fine, unmotivated-not. Ultimately separates who should be there and who shouldn't.

The afternoon bus for our HGC is always late. School is dismissed at 3:05 and our DC often doesn't get dropped off until 3:45 - and it isn't even the last stop!

This pretty much rules out any after-school activities at the home school. DC can't do after-school activities at the HGC school either because our sitter can't pick up from there (it conflicts with our other DC's pickup time).

Anonymous wrote:thanks! does anyone know what happens if the buses leave from the home school prior to 3:20? For example, I think the after care bus at our home school departs around 3:10 because school lets out at 3:05 - so if my child caught a bus from the HGC to home school and got to home school at 3:20, he would have missed the after care bus at our home school.

You might want to look at whether there is a bus stop near/at the aftercare location.

Anonymous wrote:thanks! does anyone know what happens if the buses leave from the home school prior to 3:20? For example, I think the after care bus at our home school departs around 3:10 because school lets out at 3:05 - so if my child caught a bus from the HGC to home school and got to home school at 3:20, he would have missed the after care bus at our home school.

We ended up putting our child in before and after care at a school that wasn't her base school that was on the bus route.

We're also not the furtherest stop from the center. If we were further along the route, the kids wouldn't be able to take a bus home from the home school after they got there, the timing wouldn't work. I think the HGC bus gets to the last stop on the way home about 3:40.

You are ultimately responsible for getting your kid home. You (or someone you get to do it) has to get the kid home if he misses a bus or if the timing doesn't work out for him to take a bus from the home school home.

thanks! does anyone know what happens if the buses leave from the home school prior to 3:20? For example, I think the after care bus at our home school departs around 3:10 because school lets out at 3:05 - so if my child caught a bus from the HGC to home school and got to home school at 3:20, he would have missed the after care bus at our home school.

The HGC schools start at the same start times as elementary schools - 8:45 or 9:15. DD's home school started at 9:15. HGC starts at 8:45. With central stops, I take her to her home school for the HGC bus which stops there between 8:15 and 8:20. They arrive at their school around 8:35 (Sometimes I just drive her, which takes 10 minutes to the HGC and leave home at 8:30.)

For the afternoon, HGC school lets out at 3:05. She's dropped off at her home school by a bus at 3:20. I pick her up there. Home elementary dismisses at 3:35 - I have seen HGC kids other years get on busses at the home school and ride that home. Kids can do before/after care at the home school before/after riding the bus to/from HGC. It would be easier to pick them up after work or drop them off that way.

There is a thread on page 1 of this forum about HGC transportation.

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/372409.page

We're starting to think about the HGC for next year, which is not at our son's home school. How does the transportation to and from work? Are there bus stops directly to the HGC school? Or would my child need to take the bus to his home school, and then hop onto a different bus from there to get to the HGC? Same question for the route home. Typically my so. takes a bus to aftercare now, but the HGC school uses a different aftercare. Thanks.