Over the past several decades West Virginia has closed scores of small, locally-based schools (primarily high schools), as part of district-level consolidation. These consolidations have affected families and students in numerous ways. Most notably, students living in outlying towns are now required to travel much longer distances to reach centralized high schools. Consequently community members have voiced concerns that very long bus rides take a toll on students, their schoolwork, and the degree to which they can participate in after-school activities (Spence, 2000).

The state of West Virginia has recognized that long bus rides are not desirable and the legislature has issued guidelines on maximum lengths of school bus rides. However, these recommendations are not mandatory and are not enforced. Recommended maximum one-way bus rides are 30 minutes for elementary school, 45 minutes for middle school, and one hour for high school students (Title 126, 2004). In spite of these recommendations, until recently, complete and up-to-date data on the length of bus rides was not available. As of 2002, however, district (county) transportation directors have been required to annually report bus ride lengths.

The latest available state report (for 2005) indicates that about 7.4% of West Virginia students ride school buses over the recommended times. This statewide average “override,” however, does not offer a complete picture of bus rides around the state. Bus ride lengths vary dramatically by county—from a low override rate of .4% to a high override rate of 31.3%. In some schools, in some counties, very few students experience lengthy rides. In other counties, however, a very high percentage of kids ride the bus for extended periods of time. And according to the state data, every county in West Virginia has at least some students riding the school bus over the recommended times (Transportation Times 1-06, 2006).

Though the state busing report is helpful in providing a broad picture of bus ride lengths, it lacks some critical information. Conspicuously missing from the state reports is the actual length of bus rides. The state report indicates how many students (per county) endure overrides, but provides no data on the extent to which student travel exceeds the suggested limit. Do students ride one minute over the recommended maximum time…or one hour? Also missing is any information about the impact of long bus rides. For example, to what extent are long bus rides associated with decreased academic performance, dropout rates, and the ability to participate in extra-curricular activities?

Since further consolidation is presently being proposed statewide, the lack of solid data about the impact of current consolidation is problematic. This research by the Rural School and Community Trust (Rural Trust) is an effort to fill some of those gaps.