Bus Transportation

For over 20 years, Newark Charter School has maintained a contract with Advanced Student Transportation to handle the school’s busing needs.  For the 2023 - 2024 school year, Newark Charter School will have 32 school buses dedicated to the transportation of our students to and from school.  All buses serving Newark Charter School conduct two morning and two afternoon runs daily.  

The first run collects students from the Jr and Sr High Schools.  Buses 1 - 16 will be serving the Sr High School, while buses 17 - 32 will transport Jr High School students.  During this first run, two buses may be coming to the same stop, at nearly the same time, but they are going to different locations.  It is imperative that your child pays attention to which bus they board in the morning.

The second run collects students from the Primary and Intermediate Schools.  Students in Kindergarten - 5th grade will continue to ride the same bus.

Bus Stops

Bus stops have been strategically located throughout the Greater Newark Area to provide stops for our students who live within the five-mile radius.  Jr and Sr High School students may have found that their bus stop was moved.  This was required as the number of buses to cover the 5-mile radius was reduced from 27 buses to 16 per school.  We recognize that this may require a longer walk to the bus stop.

To review the complete listing of NCS Bus Stops, click the link below.

Please note that the times listed are only estimates.  Students are expected to arrive at the school bus stop ten (10) minutes earlier.  Caregivers who are collecting students in the afternoon (as required for students in Kindergarten - 2nd grade) should also arrive at the stop at least ten (10) minutes before the expected afternoon scheduled time.

If / When changes occur to pick up or drop off times, this document will be updated.  If the time changes by more than five minutes, communication will be sent to the families notifying them of the need to revisit this official school document.

Approximate Afternoon Drop Off Time

Afternoon stop times on the Bus Stops of NCS document show the amount of time it takes from departing the school to get to each stop.  Buses are scheduled to depart the Jr and Sr High Schools no later than 2:30pm.  As the buses return to the Primary / Intermediate School from their first run at different times, it is more challenging to predict the exact time for students in Kindergarten - 5th grade.  However, this year, Primary and Intermediate families will be able to reference the “Meece Campus Bus Order.” This document will provide families with the time that their child’s bus left the school grounds.  This document will be updated daily.  With this information families will be able to approximate what time to expect their child’s bus on a daily basis.

Changing Transportation Arrangements

If your transportation needs have changed, families are welcome to utilize any established bus stop for their child’s school.  Only existing bus stops can be utilized.  No new bus stops will be created.  To communicate your transportation change, please complete the Permanent Transportation Change Form.  If the change is not a permanent change, contact your child’s main office to obtain a temporary bus pass.

Meece Campus “Same Day” Transportation Changes

In an effort to further streamline end of day transportation, the Meece Campus has instituted a procedure for “same day” transportation changes. All "same day" transportation changes are to be made via the form below rather than an email or phone call to teachers and the main offices. This procedure does not include early dismissals or permanent transportation changes.

Treker Parent App

The Treker Parent App allows families to track NCS buses as they are running their routes to and from school.  Families need to self-register to use this app.  Click the link for additional information including instructions on how to use to download, register and follow your child's bus(es). 

Remind App

Newark Charter School utilizes the Remind App to notify families of transportation situations.  These situations include notifications if the school bus is running more than fifteen (15) minutes late. All families are encouraged to subscribe for their child’s bus.  For more information on the Remind App (including instructions on how to subscribe) click the appropriate link below.  If your building or school bus has changed from last year, you will need to unsubscribe to that bus and subscribe to this year’s bus.  If you are having difficulties please contact the Main Office.

Bus Behavior

We ask that all families have a conversation with their child concerning appropriate bus behavior.  In addition to being dangerous for all on board, students who do not follow the rules of the bus will lose the privilege of riding a NCS bus.  The excellent decorum that is expected in the classroom is expected on the school bus.

If your child reports of inappropriate behavior on the bus, please share that report with your child’s Assistant Principal.

Primary School: Mrs. Tinsley (shelby.tinsley@ncs.k12.de.us) 

Intermediate School: Mr. Paparazzo (stephen.paparazzo@ncs.k12.de.us) 

Jr. High School: Mrs. Jones (michelle.jones@ncs.k12.de.us)

Sr. High School: Mr. McKenzie (mark.mckenzie@ncs.k12.de.us)

All other questions relating to transportation can be directed to Mr. Wakeman (jesse.wakeman@ncs.k12.de.us), NCS Chief Operations Officer.