Poughkeepsie Approves New Bus System to Boost Student Success
A new bus system for students is coming to Poughkeepsie for the 2025-26 school year. Photo by Elizabeth Baumgardner '25
In May, with the support of the public, a long-anticipated plan to offer school bus transportation to elementary students in Poughkeepsie is nearing implementation. According to Poughkeepsie City School District, the program under discussion aims to help more than 900 students get a good start in attendance, safety and overall academic achievement by commencing in the 2025-2026 school year.
"This will assist us in increasing attendance, decreasing chronic absenteeism, increasing student achievement and ultimately increasing student graduation rates," said Superintendent Dr. Eric Jay Rosser in the Poughkeepsie Journal.
The Poughkeepsie City School District Board of Education unanimously approved it. According to Rosser,the state's Child Safety Zone Program will fund 90% of the transport of children who live over half a mile from school and face hazardous conditions. Payment will come from the district's fund balance, thus not increasing taxes for residents.
For decades, elementary students in Poughkeepsie have had limited transportation options, often walking through high-traffic areas or relying on older siblings to accompany them. Community members have pushed for change, and local parents see this plan as a long-overdue improvement.
Chandra Richardson, a mother whose son attends Roberto Clemente Elementary, says on News 12 New Jersey, “It’s finally happening… Being at one school at a time for an extended period of time, and they get transportation… I think that's a big issue in this district. Knowing my child will have safe, reliable transportation gives me peace of mind.”
According to Poughkeepsie City School District, the district is currently in the process of restructuring the elementary schools, which will consolidate schools into two designated buildings; in the first, pre-K through second grade and grades three through five in the second building. By staggering school start times, the district estimates it will need only 15 full-sized buses rather than doubling its fleet.
According to a study by the Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University, students with access to school buses lead to a 0.5 to 1 percentage point increase in attendance rates and a 2 to 4 percentage point reduction in chronic absenteeism.
In a district where chronic absenteeism has been a persistent challenge, providing consistent transportation is expected to keep more students in the classroom.
“The connection between school attendance and long-term success is undeniable. By ensuring students arrive safely and on time, we are setting them up for a brighter future,” said Rosser.
Better school commutes are just one of the reasons teachers see this as a future investment in Poughkeepsie. Higher attendance relates to higher test scores and graduation rates, hence benefiting the entire community through an educated workforce.
With funding secured for the first year and state aid covering the majority of costs thereafter, district leaders urge residents to vote in favor of the transportation plan on May 20. If approved, the new bus system will launch in Sept. 2025, marking a historic shift in how young students in Poughkeepsie get to school.
Board Member Hon. Thomas O’Neill said, “We are addressing issues that have impacted students for generations, and the results will shape our community for years to come.”