Bus Routes

Bus stops are placed based on safety, legal requirements, and route efficiency. We avoid stops near hazards like sharp curves or hills, follow state spacing regulations, and design routes to serve the most students with the fewest stops. If you believe your current stop is unsafe or poses a significant problem, you can submit a request for a bus stop review. See the "Request a bus stop" section on this page for details.

Washington State transportation funding covers students who live beyond a set distance from their school: more than one mile for elementary students, 1.5 miles for middle school students, and 2 miles for high school students. Students who live within these distances are expected to walk.

Safe Walking Route maps are available to help you find the safest path. Students attending a school outside their home boundaries are responsible for their own transportation. If walking presents a hardship or safety concern, contact the Transportation Department to discuss options.

Bus drop-off times on early release Wednesdays are 50 minutes earlier than usual. Release times are:

• North Kitsap High School, Kingston High School, and Poulsbo Middle School: 1:40 PM
• Kingston Middle School: 1:50 PM
• All elementary schools: 3:00 PM

Bus arrival times can vary due to traffic, weather, and route changes. Being at the stop five minutes early helps your child avoid missing the bus and allows them to wait safely away from the road. Buses cannot wait for late arrivals without delaying the entire route.

Buses cannot wait for late arrivals. If your child misses the bus, it is the parent or guardian's responsibility to bring them to school. Please make sure your child arrives at the stop at least five minutes early.

The bus driver will try to return the item to your child. If it isn't claimed within a day or two, it will be brought to the school. If you need the item sooner, contact the Transportation Department to arrange pickup from the bus depot or school. We recommend labeling your child's belongings with their name and contact information.

No. In accordance with WAC 392-145-060, students must board and exit at their assigned stop. If your child needs to use a different stop, provide a signed note with the alternate stop location. The note must be approved by school administration before being given to the bus driver.

Students should ride their assigned bus. If your child needs to ride a different bus, submit a signed note to the school office in the morning for approval. A bus pass will be issued if there is space available on the requested bus.

School buses are among the safest modes of transportation, but it's important for students to follow these guidelines to ensure their safety:

1. Before the bus arrives: Get to the bus stop five minutes early and maintain a safe distance of at least 10 feet (or five giant steps) from the road.

2. Boarding the bus: Wait until the bus completely stops, the door opens, and the driver says it's safe before boarding. Always use the handrails.

3. While on the bus: Always sit properly in the seat, facing forward. Do not distract the driver or shout. Keep aisles clear of backpacks and other objects.

4. Exiting the bus: Wait for the bus to stop completely before getting up from your seat. Use the handrails when exiting.

5. Crossing the street: If you have to cross the street in front of the bus, make eye contact with the driver and wait for their signal. Always look left-right-left before crossing, and never cross behind the bus.

6. Emergency procedures: Learn and understand the bus's emergency procedures, including how to exit through emergency doors and windows.

7. General conduct: Respect the driver and fellow students. Don't throw objects or stick body parts out of the windows. Keep your belongings secured and avoid eating or drinking on the bus.

By following these guidelines, students can help make every bus journey safe and enjoyable.

The "danger zone" is the area extending ten feet (or ten giant steps) in every direction from the school bus. This area is particularly dangerous because it's difficult for the bus driver to see students in this zone, especially close to the bus wheels.

If a student needs to cross the street, they should:

1. Make eye contact with the driver to ensure they are seen.
2. Wait for the driver to signal when it's safe to cross.
3. Always look left, then right, then left again before crossing.
4. Always cross in front of the bus, never behind it.

Staying outside of the "danger zone" and following these crossing guidelines greatly improves student safety.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, school buses are the safest form of ground transportation. Students are about 70 times more likely to get to school safely by bus than by car. School buses are heavily regulated and built with safety features including flashing red lights, cross-view mirrors, and high seat backs.

Each year, the Washington State Patrol inspects all NKSD buses. A 97% pass rate means nearly all of our buses met or exceeded state safety standards, reflecting the dedication of our maintenance team.

Staff begin evaluating road conditions as early as 3 a.m. during bad weather. Based on those assessments, decisions are made about delays or closures. If conditions worsen during the school day, procedures are in place to get students home safely. Updates are communicated through multiple channels.

All NKSD bus drivers meet Washington State requirements, including authorization training with classroom and behind-the-wheel components.

Each driver holds a commercial driver's license and a current First Aid card, is at least 21 years old, and has passed an FBI and Washington State Patrol background check and pre-employment drug test. Drivers are trained in emergency management and student discipline and participate in ongoing in-service training and annual safety sessions.

NKSD provides full training for new bus drivers. To qualify, you must be at least 21 years old and pass an FBI and Washington State Patrol background check and a pre-employment drug test. A commercial driver's license and First Aid card are required but can be obtained during training. 

Interested? Please reach out to us at (360) 396-3007 for more information. We're looking forward to welcoming you to our team!

The North Kitsap School District Transportation Department is here to assist with all your transportation-related needs and concerns. For any issues, requests, or queries, please contact our office via email at nktrans@nkschools.org, or give us a call at (360) 396-3099. Our dedicated staff is eager to provide the best possible transportation service for our students, and we appreciate your feedback and cooperation.