Golden Ridge-Bus Transportation

February 18, 2026

Dear Eldorado Elementary and Saddle Ranch Elementary Families,

Thank you for your partnership over the past year as we have worked to consolidate Saddle Ranch Elementary and Eldorado Elementary into the new Golden Ridge Elementary which will open in August 2026.

Below are important updates about school bus transportation for next school year. We encourage you to take a few minutes to read through this information thoroughly.

As we understand that the consolidation of Saddle Ranch and Eldorado is a big shift for your family, we are working to make access to school bus transportation easier during this transition.

Normally, DCSD families who live within one mile of their assigned neighborhood school are not eligible to access school bus transportation. We call this the “walk zone” and it exists because of the sheer size of the school district and DCSD's limited transportation resources.

However, for the 2026-2027 school year*, we are making the following exceptions to our bus policy for families who will be attending Golden Ridge Elementary. Our hope is this will provide families with additional transportation options, should they need them, during this upcoming transitional year.

• In addition to the normal bus stops for Golden Ridge Elementary School (as in previous years, bus stop locations will be announced over the summer), we will add a bus stop at Saddle Ranch Elementary.

• Students who previously attended Saddle Ranch Elementary and are enrolled at Golden Ridge Elementary for the next year, will be provided school bus transportation for 2026-2027 only. Families will need to transport their students to the bus stop located at the Saddle Ranch Elementary building.

• Any family who does not live within the walk zone and is eligible for transportation as normal can also drop off and pick up their children at Saddle Ranch if that is more convenient for them.

*These additional bus options will likely only be available for the 2026-2027 school year. However, we will revisit this for the 2027-2028 school year.

Please help us plan for school bus transportation demands. If your family will utilize school bus transportation from the Saddle Ranch Elementary bus stop to Golden Ridge Elementary School next school year, please register by completing this form. This registration form will remain open until May 1, 2026.

Not sure if you live within a “walk zone”?

• See the walk zone map below.

• Go to this webpage and enter your home address. You will then see your family’s school bus transportation status.
  
  

Please reach out to me at scolella@dcsdk12.org with any questions that you have.

Sincerely,

Steve Colella

Chief of Staff

Douglas County School District