Milton families who missed the June 30 bus registration deadline could be left without a seat when school starts Aug. 26 — a real possibility now that the district has laid out exactly how its waitlist works.
On-time registration closed June 30. Anyone who registered after that date lands on a waitlist and won't get a seat assignment until after Aug. 15, and only if space allows — on top of a $50-per-family fee with no waivers available. The district plans to notify families of seat assignments the week of Aug. 3, with practice routes, mailed bus passes, and final routes posted online in mid-August. Students living farthest from school get priority.
Milton added a new bus route in its fiscal 2027 budget, at a cost of about $100,000, bringing the total to 11 routes, and asked its provider, First Student, to use larger buses where possible. Even with those changes, the district has been upfront that "demand may still exceed supply, resulting in a possible shortage of seats on some routes."
Massachusetts law only requires free transportation for students in grades K-6 who live more than two miles from school — meaning transportation isn't guaranteed at all for grades 7-12, regardless of how far a student lives. That puts rising 7th-graders in a particularly tight spot, since it's their first year without a legal guarantee of a ride. The district specifically urged those families to register before the June 30 deadline; anyone who missed it should contact the transportation department directly at [email protected].
Other key dates to know
- Aug. 24 — All-staff professional development day
- Aug. 26 — First day of school, grades 1-12
- Aug. 31 — First day of school, preschool and kindergarten
The district also announced fall open houses will be held in the evening, with Milton High School students invited to attend the MHS event; specific dates and times come from individual principals in September. Routes and waitlists will keep adjusting into September based on actual ridership. Questions can go to [email protected].
