Bus Stops and Schedules
My Ride K-12 (GPS Bus Locator)
All bus assignments, as well as routes and stops, are determined by Transportation Services. Parents whose children ride school buses are asked to be sure the information on the bus assignment is accurate. If the information is not correct, please call the school office.
Scheduled bus routes and stops are assigned to accommodate the most centrally located population. Generally, buses do not stop at more than every other block (corner). As bus stop times are a general guide, students are expected to be at their bus stop five minutes before the scheduled pickup time. Heavy traffic or inclement weather can prevent drivers from maintaining scheduled stop times. Students are encouraged to wait until the bus arrives.
Use the My Ride K-12 app (GPS Bus Locator tool) to find the location of your child's bus.
- Kindergarten and Younger Riders
- Special Education Transportation
- Activity Buses
- Voluntary Opt-Out of Bus Service
- FAQs
Kindergarten and Younger Riders
Bus drivers will not release kindergarten or younger students without a parent/guardian meeting the bus, unless the school has a letter from the parent/guardian authorizing the driver to release students to another adult.
If a kindergarten or younger student is not met at the bus stop by the parent/guardian or authorized adult, Transportation will try to contact the house before leaving the bus stop. It is important that the school office has your current phone numbers. If there is no response, Transportation will then bring the student back to school for pickup.
Special Education Transportation
Although most special education students attend a District 15 school, we provide bus transportation to other schools in the north and northwest suburban area. The transportation and special services directors jointly coordinate special education bus routes. Because most special education students are picked up at “house” stops, parents are requested to call the transportation office (847-963-3909) if a student is not attending school, or you can leave a message on our absence recorder (847-963-3801). The transportation office opens at 5:30 a.m.
Activity Buses
Activity buses are available to middle school students after school and on a limited basis before school. Students who are involved in after-school clubs, sports, and activities may ride the after-school activity bus. These activity buses do not run the day before a school holiday. There is no charge for the activity bus.
Voluntary Opt-Out of Bus Service
If your child is eligible for free bus service, but you do not intend to use the bus or only need transportation before or after school (not both ways), please fill out the Transportation Opt-Out form to indicate for which children and for which bus routes (before and/or after school) bus transportation is not needed.
If a student lives 1.5 miles or more away from school, students are entitled to free bus transportation. Unless a family notifies us that they do not want transportation, their children are placed on a bus route. Some families do not want to use transportation and choose to transport their children to and from school themselves. If we remove students from bus routes that are NOT going to use district transportation, we can reduce bus route times by eliminating the bus stopping at that assigned bus stop.
If your child(ren) is assigned to a bus route and you wish to continue using district transportation, you do not need to do anything. The OPT OUT form is ONLY for families that do not need all or partial D15 bus transportation.
FAQs
- Can my child get off at a stop other than their assigned home bus stop?
- My child is staying over at a friend’s house. Can they ride their friend’s bus?
- Why are students asked to arrive at the bus stop five minutes before the bus pickup time?
- My child’s bus frequently arrives later than the scheduled pickup time. What causes the delays?
- The bus didn’t show up on time for my child. How long should he/she wait at the stop?
- My child’s bus arrives later/earlier than I want. Can the time be changed?
- My child missed the bus. Can the bus come back to the bus stop?
- My child missed the bus at school this afternoon. Can the bus come back?
- I can’t see my child’s bus stop from my house. How can I get the bus stop moved closer?
- The bus drives right past my house. Why can’t it stop at my house?
- Can students bring large musical instruments with them on the bus?
- How do I locate a lost item on a school bus?
- My child doesn't need to take the bus to and/or from school. Can I opt my child out of bus transportation?
Can my child get off at a stop other than their assigned home bus stop?
My child is staying over at a friend’s house. Can they ride their friend’s bus?
Why are students asked to arrive at the bus stop five minutes before the bus pickup time?
We ask students to arrive at their assigned bus stop at least five minutes prior to pick up time so that they are ready and waiting for the bus to arrive. This helps to ensure a faster loading time. It also ensures that they are there in case the time on their clock or watch differs slightly from the time for the driver.
My child’s bus frequently arrives later than the scheduled pickup time. What causes the delays?
Despite our efforts to actively recruit and hire drivers, we are understaffed. When routes do not have an “assigned” driver, other drivers pick up the additional routes after they have completed their “assigned” route. Unfortunately, this causes delays in our route times. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause your families. Bus routes are planned to run on a fairly set schedule. Sometimes there could be traffic delays for various reasons. Sometimes children are not ready and waiting at earlier bus stops, which can cause the bus to run behind schedule on all future stops. This is another reason why we ask all children to be ready and waiting at their bus stops so we can minimize delays.
The bus didn’t show up on time for my child. How long should he/she wait at the stop?
Your child should arrive at the stop at least five minutes before the regular arrival time of the bus. If there is a substitute driver, the times may not be absolutely consistent with the regular times. If the bus is late ask your child to remain at the stop. Buses can break down, roads can be blocked, a driver may be ill or have emergencies, etc. which may result in a late bus. If the wait becomes extreme (approximately 20 minutes), please call the Transportation Office at 847-963-3909/3912.
My child’s bus arrives later/earlier than I want. Can the time be changed?
All District 15 buses operate on a comprehensive schedule, completing two or three routes in the morning and again in the afternoon. This helps to ensure that the system operates safely and efficiently, while working to deliver students to school on time. Because of the number of students needing transportation, and to ensure effective scheduling, the overall bus schedules cannot be adjusted to accommodate an individual request.
My child missed the bus. Can the bus come back to the bus stop?
My child missed the bus at school this afternoon. Can the bus come back?
At most schools, the drivers receive a signal from school staff when they can depart after a sufficient time has been allowed for students to exit the school to board the buses. Sometimes students are held up at school for unforeseen reasons and miss their school bus. Once buses depart the school, if the Transportation Department is notified that a child is left behind, every effort will be made to return for the student. However, if the bus is no longer in the proximity of the school the driver will not be able to return until the entire route has been completed.
I can’t see my child’s bus stop from my house. How can I get the bus stop moved closer?
Bus stops are placed at centralized locations that can be safely accessed by a significant number of students to minimize the time length and mileage of the run. If you have concerns about your child’s safety you are encouraged to accompany your child to the bus stop or arrange a neighborhood buddy to walk with your child.
The bus drives right past my house. Why can’t it stop at my house?
Bus stops are placed to allow the buses easy access and egress through neighborhoods while keeping safety a priority. Bus stops are designed so that no child has to walk more than an average of two tenth of a mile (2 blocks). In addition, adding bus stops causes further delays on our bus routes and extends the student’s ride time. This means that bus routes would have to start earlier in the morning to arrive to school on time. Similarly, in the afternoon it would mean students arrive home later.
Can students bring large musical instruments with them on the bus?
Musical instruments are permitted on the school bus as long as the student can carry the instrument or object on and off the bus by him/herself. They must be placed in the lap or stored between the student’s legs and the barrier in the front of the student. Instruments or large objects cannot block the aisle. Large instruments such as drum kits, cellos, and basses are too large to be transported on school buses safely. In an accident, these items can easily become a projectile object and can injure a student. If you are unsure, please check with your child’s school before bringing a large musical instrument or object to the bus stop.
How do I locate a lost item on a school bus?
If a driver finds an item on the bus, he/she will hold it until the following day. The student may ask the driver if his/her item was found on the bus. If it remains unclaimed, the driver will bring the item to the Transportation Office. If you contact the Transportation Office, please provide us with a full description of the item. Often drivers are not able to inspect buses while they are on the road and will check for lost items at their next assignment. Because electronic devices such as cell phones, tables, ipods, and games are very popular, the recovery rate is very low. We recommend that students store all personal items in a secure place such as their backpack while traveling to and from school.
My child doesn't need to take the bus to and/or from school. Can I opt my child out of bus transportation?
Yes. If a student lives 1.5 miles or more away from school, they are entitled to free bus transportation. Unless a family notifies us that they do not want transportation, their children are placed on a bus route. Some families do not want to use transportation and choose to transport their children to and from school themselves. If we remove students from bus routes that are NOT going to use district transportation, we can reduce bus route times by eliminating the bus stopping at that assigned bus stop. At present, the bus stops at all assigned stops on the route and waits 3 minutes for the students to board the bus. If there are no students at that stop, the bus still waits for 3 minutes before moving onto the next stop.
If you DO NOT want your child or DO NOT need your child to use district transportation, please fill out the D15 Transportation Opt-Out form so we can remove your child(ren) from the route.
D15 Transportation Opt-Out form
You may only need transportation one way, either to or from school. Please fill out the form and indicate which route you do NOT need transportation.
If your child(ren) is assigned to a route and you wish to continue using district transportation, you do NOT need to fill out this form. The form is ONLY for families that do NOT need transportation.