This fall, when we open our Watertown High School at Moxley, we will be managing pick-up and drop-off for over 1200 students. Middle School and High School start and end times will be staggered to help mitigate the confluence of students. We anticipate that pick-up and drop-off times will be congested and we are encouraging all families to consider alternative options for arriving at the site, including walking, biking, or taking a bus. There will be no student parking in or around the site, and the expectation is that students will not be driving to school.
During the Watertown High School Construction, the building project plans provide for bus transportation to middle school and high school students in grades 6-12 who live .75 miles or more from the Middle School/Moxley site without a fee for students. Students and families who are interested in busing will be required to sign up for busing in the coming weeks, with the expectation that anyone who signs up for busing will ride the bus to school every day and will carry with them their bus pass at all times. No one will be allowed to ride a Middle School/High School bus without a pass. We understand that there will be fluctuations in the number of students riding the bus in the afternoon due to after school activities. It is important to note that we will adjust bus schedules and stops if it is determined that students are not regularly riding the bus.
Regardless of grade or distance from school, all students must register online for the bus each year. Registrations do not roll over from year to year.
There is no fee for Middle School or High School Students who live .75 miles or more from the Middle School during the Watertown High School Construction.
Timeline
June 12: Registration Deadline
June 30: Confirmation of each student’s bus registration will be emailed to the parent/guardian email address provided on the registration form
Early August: Bus stop location and pick-up/drop-off times will be emailed to the email address provided
All registrations received by June 12th will be will be processed by the WPS Business Office to determine the walking distance. Registrations that are received after June 12th will only be considered if space allows. Bus routes and scheduled pickup times will be determined based on actual ridership.
School Bus Routes
Only students may board the bus. Parents/Caregivers are never allowed on the bus.
Bus routes and scheduled pickup times are reviewed each year and will be determined based on actual ridership. The routes are posted on the WPS Transportation page: WPS Transportation webpage early August, all families whose child(ren) has a seat on the bus will also be sent the route information.
Additionally, afternoon Late Bus service will be provided to Middle School students who are registered for the regular Transportation Program. The late bus will stop at the bus stops of the students who ride the bus on a given day. This service does not start the first day of school; the Middle School principal includes the start date for this in the weekly newsletters.
2023-2024 Middle School Bus Registration Link
2023-2024 High School Bus Registration Link
MBTA for Students
Middle School and High School students may sign up for reduced-fare Student CharlieCards, valid on MBTA buses and subway. There are two types of Student CharlieCards available:
Unlimited Pass: This pass offers students unlimited access to the MBTA bus and subway system at a cost of $30 per month. This pass must be paid in two installments: $150 for September through January, then $150 for February through June. Contact the WPS Transportation Office for information on use of this pass during the summer months. If payments are not made when due the card is shut off by the MBTA.
Pay-As-You-Go Card: This card works like a prepaid charge card balance. Students can load money onto their passes at any MBTA kiosk. Funds are then deducted from the balance at a discounted student rate of 85¢ per bus ride and $1.10 per subway ride. There is no charge for students to obtain a pay-as-you-go card, but it will come loaded with $0 prepaid, so students are responsible for loading money onto their pay-as-you-go cards.
*The MBTA may change their fees at any time – WPS fees will change accordingly
Pay-As-You-Go Cards are available for pickup at both the Middle School and High School main offices. If you would like to purchase the Unlimited Pass please email: wps_busing@watertown.k12.ma.us
Contact
If you have additional questions, please contact us at wps_busing@watertown.k12.ma.us.
