Houston Independent School District is setting a new course for the way high school students will travel to and from school starting in the 2025-2026 academic year. As detailed in a Click2Houston article, Kari Feinberg, HISD's Chief of Operational Effectiveness, unveiled several key changes aimed at streamlining students' daily commutes. Among the most notable is the offer for eligible high school students to use METRO public transportation at no cost to themselves or their families.
Qualifying criteria for students to receive HISD-funded rides remain firm: those attending their zoned schools must live over two miles away, and those on hazardous routes or attending magnet schools are also eligible. Feinberg emphasized that HISD's commitment to transporting magnet students sets it apart from many other districts. "We are one of the school systems in the state of Texas and certainly the biggest system in the state of Texas that provides transportation to our magnet students," Feinberg told Click2Houston.
In a move to modernize and optimize the transit experience, HISD has set ambitious goals to reduce ride times; no student traveling to their zoned school will face a bus ride longer than 50 minutes, while those heading to magnet schools will have their travel capped at 80 minutes. According to a KHOU report, HISD is also simplifying the process by allowing parents to directly request transportation via HISD's transportation department rather than going through individual schools.
The partnership with METRO offers a practical alternative for high schoolers, recognizing that many already forgo district buses in favor of public transport. "What this means is any high school student who qualifies for transportation, so you have to be transportation eligible, will have the choice between either a METRO pass that will allow them to go to and from school using METRO, or a HISD routed bus, the way that they are usually used to going to school," Feinberg explained in the Click2Houston release. Further support systems are to be introduced for students with disabilities, ensuring compliance with individuals' IEPs, as mentioned in the KHOU article.
Parents and students keen to adapt to these upcoming changes should watch for a district-wide survey slated to be sent during the week of May 5. It will collect initial transportation requests for the forthcoming school year, as noted by both Click2Houston and KHOU. These steps are part of HISD's broader goal to ensure safe, efficient, and cost-effective transportation options for its student population.
