Transportation information for the 2025-26 school year

Dear SPS Families:

Transportation information for the 2025-26 school year will be available on Friday, August 22 after 5 pm. Student bus assignments for returning students or new students who registered before August 13 will be posted in PowerSchool at that time. Bus routes will be posted on the website by Monday, August 25.

The transportation department is finalizing bus routes for the 2025-26 school year. Bus routes are adjusted annually based on projected enrollment and the home addresses provided by parents. Bus routes, bus numbers, bus stop locations, and pickup/drop-off times are subject to change annually.

***New for 2025-26*** First Student, the SPS Bus Transportation vendor, has launched FirstView 1.0, an updated mobile application for tracking your child’s bus. Parents must download and install FirstView 1.0 for iOS or Android AND create a FirstView 1.0 account to track their child’s bus in 2025-26. The previous First View app has been disabled.

The FirstView 1.0 District Code for Stamford Public Schools is: H2Z4S. You must enter this code to create an account.

Download the FirstView 1.0 Parent Registration Guide (ENGLISH) (SPANISH) for detailed instructions with graphics.

Before contacting the transportation department, check to see if your question is answered below. The transportation department receives a high number of inquiries in August and will respond in the order in which they were received.

Thank you,

SPS Transportation Department

Q: Is my child eligible for bus service?

A: Bus transportation is provided to in-district students who meet the following criteria:

Elementary Schools (all K-5 & K-8): Students must live 1 mile or more from their school.
Middle Schools (Cloonan, Dolan, Rippowam and Turn of River): Students must live 1.5 miles or more from their school.
High Schools (AITE and Stamford High): Students must live more than 2 miles from their school.
Scofield Middle School: Transportation is provided with no distance restrictions.
Westhill High School: Transportation is provided with no distance restrictions.
K-12 Students with Identified Special Needs: Must require specialized transportation as part of their educational plan.

Q. When will I find out my child’s bus assignment?

A. Bus assignments will be posted in PowerSchool on Friday, August 22.

Q. My child is starting kindergarten. Is bus transportation provided for Orientation on August 26?

A. Yes, your child’s assigned bus will transport your child to/from orientation. Parents may ride the bus with their child.

Q. My child is starting middle school or high school. Is bus transportation provided for Orientation on August 26?

A. Yes, your child’s assigned bus will transport your child to/from orientation.

Q. I’m new to Stamford Public Schools. How do I sign up for PowerSchool?

A. The PowerSchool Parent Portal is available to all parents/guardians who have students enrolled in Stamford Public Schools. Contact your child’s school for information on how to set up your PowerSchool Account.

Q. Is there a way to track my child’s school bus?

A. First Student has launched FirstView 1.0, an updated application for tracking your child’s bus. Parents must download and install FirstView 1.0 for iOS or Android AND create a FirstView 1.0 account to track their child’s bus in 2025-26. Enter the unique district code for Stamford Public Schools: H2Z4S.

Q: My child is enrolled in a magnet school, not their attendance zone school. Are they eligible for bus transportation?

A: Students enrolled in magnet schools are eligible for bus service based on the criteria above.

Q. Our family has a shared custody arrangement. Can the school bus pick up and drop at both parents’ houses?

A. Transportation is provided based on the primary address listed in PowerSchool. If custody arrangements require a change in pick up and drop off locations, please update the primary address in PowerSchool and contact your child’s school office for guidance.

Q. My child qualifies for bus transportation but will be a car rider every day. Can we opt out?

If your child qualifies for bus transportation but does NOT take the bus, you may opt-out of bus service by completing the Bus Transportation Opt-Out Form in PowerSchool. This helps First Student improve on-time performance. Should your child’s transportation situation change, you may contact your school principal to reinstate your child’s bus rider status.

Q. My child registered after August 13 and is eligible for bus service. What should I do?

A. Students who registered for school after August 13 will not have a bus assignment in PowerSchool for the first day of school. Students who registered after August 13 will get a bus assignment in PowerSchool on August 29 that will be effective on Tuesday, September 2. If this creates a hardship, contact the transportation office at (203) 977-4249.

Q. Will my child’s bus route change?

A. During the first few weeks of school, routes will be adjusted based on ridership and traffic conditions. Pickup and drop-off times may change slightly. Please arrive at the bus stop at least 10 minutes before your child’s scheduled pickup or drop-off time.

Bus routes will be updated weekly during the school year. Updated bus routes will be posted on the SPS website as adjustments are made.

Q. Will the same person drive the bus each day?

A. There is a nationwide bus driver shortage, which means your assigned bus route may not have the same driver every day. Every effort is made to ensure consistency in bus drivers, but that cannot be guaranteed.

Q: Our family requested and received Out-of-Attendance-Zone placement. Does our child qualify for bus transportation?

A: Students enrolled in a school through the Out-of-Attendance-Zone process do not qualify for bus transportation.