Bus Registration School Year 22/23
April 29, 2022
2022-2023 Lowell Temporary Bus Registration
Link Bus Registration Information Transportation will be available to the Lowell Students from shared pickup points throughout Watertown to their temporary schools during construction. 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. All registrations received by June 1st will be processed by the WPS Business Office to determine the walking distance.
All registrations received by June 1st will be processed by the WPS Business Office to determine the walking distance. Registrations that are received after June 1st will only be considered if space allows. Depending on the number of registrations we receive, we may have a waitlist for seats even if the registration is submitted by June 1st. Bus routes and scheduled pickup times will be determined based on actual ridership.
Timeline
June 5
Registration Deadline
June 20
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
Only students may board the bus.
Parents 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.
Afternoon bus routes from all 3 elementary schools do not include the Boys & Girls Club. If Watertown Public Schools is able to offer transportation to the Boys & Girls Club a separate online registration form will be sent to all families from their school principal in early September.
Contact If you have additional questions, please contact Shannon Dixon at wps_busing@watertown.k12.ma.us.
Middle School Bus Registration 2022-23
Registrations do not roll over from year to year. Bus ridership determination is based solely on walking distance (as determined by the business office) to the school that the child attends. Please note that other criteria apply: transportation is not available to students who live less than 0.75 miles' walking distance from their school, or to out-of-neighborhood students (email or call for details).
All registrations received by June 1st will be processed by the WPS Business Office to determine the walking distance. Registrations that are received after June 1st will only be considered if space allows. Depending on the number of registrations we receive, we may have a waitlist for seats even if the registration is submitted by June 1st. Bus routes and scheduled pickup times will be determined based on actual ridership.
For students who attend Hosmer and Watertown Middle school, the fee grid is listed below.
Grade Fee waived per, School Committee Policy and/or State law. Registration is still required.
$300 per child, family max $475
Grade 6 Families living more than 2 miles' walking distance from the Middle School. Families living a walking distance of less than 2 miles but more than 0.75 miles from the Middle School.
Grades 7-8 Families living a walking distance of more than 0.75 miles from the Middle School. For families who want to apply, or reapply, for the school year need-based fee waive.
For families who want to apply, or reapply, for the school year need-based fee waiver please use this link. The USDA Food and Nutrition Service will update the waiver form for the school year in mid-late July. To use the fee waiver for transportation (in addition to the school food program) you must check off the “permission to share with the Business Office” option. Please note that fee waivers do not affect eligibility or take priority over the distance determination. Please contact Brandon Rabbitt, the Director of School Nutrition at brandon.rabbitt@watertown.k12.ma.us , with any Free & Reduced lunch questions. There is no “transportation only” waiver – the transportation waiver only applies if Free/Reduced lunch applies.
Families whose students secure a seat will be emailed a confirmation with instructions for payment via check or money order.
Timeline
June 5 Registration Deadline
June 20 Confirmation of each student’s bus registration will be emailed to the parent/guardian email address provided on the registration form
July 15 Full payment is due; if payment is not received by the due date, the seat will be considered open and will be offered to the next person on the waitlist the day after the fee due date has passed. To be fair to all we do not make any exceptions.
Early August Bus stop location and pick-up/drop-off times will be emailed to the email address provided
School Bus Routes Only students may board the bus.
Parents 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, the 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. The late bus will depart from the Middle School Monday through Thursday at 4:30 pm; this bus does not run on early release days. This service does not start on the first day of school; the Middle School principal includes the start date for this in the weekly newsletters.
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 Shannon Dixon at wps_busing@watertown.k12.ma.us.