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Bus Pass Eligibility

Busing - Eligiblity

Please Note:

The change to the distance eligibility requirements for student transportation first announced for September 2024 implementation was revised by the Government of Alberta to be effective starting September 2025.  Due to this government change, eligibility for student transportation at the Grande Prairie Catholic School Division remains unchanged for the 2024/2025 school year.

YOUR CHILD IS ELIGIBLE TO RIDE!
IN-BOUNDARY STUDENTS Primary / Home Address - FREE BUSSING

eligiblilty
  • All In-Boundary Students who meet the following minimum distance requirements receive FREE busing:
    • Travelling to the students' single primary address (same address, to and from school), within the correctly designated school boundary.
    • Grade K-3 primary/home residence is more than 1.7 km from their resident/neighborhood school and/or they have to cross a *main arterial road.
    • Grades 4-12 primary/home residence is more than 2.4 km from their resident/neighborhood school and/or they have to cross a *main arterial road.
    • IMPORTANT: Students who do not meet the minimum distance thresholds outlined above CANNOT obtain a bus pass.
    • *Main arterial roadway lists can be found by scrolling down this page in the "Find out more" section.
    • NOTE #1 - Programs of Choice: Only students who live within the neighborhood zone for Montessori (Mother Teresa), Fine Arts (St. Catherine), STEM (St. Patrick) or a Celtic Academy program (Holy Cross or St. Kateri) qualify for Free Busing if attending one of those programs. If your child attends one of these programs and IS NOT within the neighborhood zone proceed to the YOUR CHILD MAY BE ELIGIBLE TO RIDE tab below.
    • NOTE #2 - FRENCH IMMERSION: To obtain bussing to your zoned French Immersion school you must meet the minimum distance requirements AND be attending the French Immersion school zoned to your home address. Any French Immersion students crossing the boundary CANNOT access bussing.
Check your child's eligibility by CLICKING HERE
  • Assuming the search result is "You ride", you can now proceed to filling out your Bus Pass Application.
YOUR CHILD MAY BE ELIGIBLE TO RIDE!
OUT-OF-BOUNDARY STUDENTS - USER PAY BUSING ($320.00 per year / per child)
ALL SECONDARY ADDRESSES: Students requiring an additional drop off/pickup location ($320.00 per year/ per child)
 
  • Busing may or may not be available for purchase by Out-Of-Boundary students
    • Only if an existing route is in place and only if there is space available on the bus may an out-of-boundary student purchase a bus pass. Please note that acquiring a bus pass does not guarantee that spot is available for the entire year. If the seat becomes required by an in-boundary student, your bus pass may be revoked.
    • This includes students crossing a boundary to attend Montessori (Mother Teresa), STEM St. Patrick) , Celtic Academy (St. Kateri or Holy Cross) and Fine Arts (St. Catherine) schools/programs.
    • When a bus pass is available out-of-boundary, students may also be required to access a bus stop beyond the usual 750-meter threshold that is typically guaranteed to in-boundary students. 
  • Busing may or may not be available for purchase for Secondary Addresses: Students requesting additional pickup/drop off locations that are not their Primary/Home Address.
    • Only if an existing route is in place and only if there is space available on the bus may a student purchase a pass for an additional pickup /drop-off location. Please note that acquiring a bus pass does not guarantee that a spot is available for the entire year. If the seat becomes required, your bus pass may be revoked
 
Check your child's eligibility by CLICKING HERE
  • If the result in the search above is "You do not ride" you still may be able to purchase a bus pass if a route and available seat exists. To apply proceed to the Bus Pass Application Tab
Sorry, your child is not eligible to ride the bus.
OUT-OF-BOUNDARY STUDENTS - BUS PASS RESTRICTIONS
  • Students residing in a Rural area that is not serviced by an eligible route.  Rural routes will not be extended or redrawn to transport Out-Of-Boundary Students from Rural Areas.  Doing so increases ride times and costs and affects overall operational efficiency.   
  • Students attending the following school and/or programs of choice CANNOT acquire a bus pass, and parents must be able to guarantee their own transportation for their child to and from school to attend the school or program of choice:
    • Out-Of-Boundary French Immersion School (e.g., Zoned for École St. Gerard's but attends École Catholique Louis Riel) 
    • Out-Of-Boundary Celtic Academy Program (e.g., Zoned for Holy Cross but attends St. Kateri)
IN-BOUNDARY STUDENTS - BUS PASS RESTRICTIONS
  • In-Boundary students who do not meet the minimum distance guidelines and/or DO NOT cross one of the main arterial roads.
Check your child's eligibility by CLICKING HERE
  • If the result in the search above is "You do not ride" unfortunately you are not permitted to purchase a bus pass.
Additional Information
Any Grade that is required to cross the listed roadways within the attendance boundaries of their resident school: 
  • Wapiti Road (Hwy 40)
  • 68 Avenue
  • 84 Avenue
  • 92 Street
  • 100 Street
  • 116 Avenue
  • 132 Avenue
  • Southview subdivision for students attending St. Kateri
  • Students living in Chelsea Villas (those crossing 102 St) to attend St. Catherine
  • Student living south of 100 Ave, within the St. Clements boundary, to attend St. Clements ~ NEW
 
Eligibility for transportation is determined by the student's primary/home resident address.  Provisions of services are guided by provincial regulations set out by Alberta Education and local District(s) procedures, including school boundaries.
A maximum of 2 transportation location requests are allowed per student, however, only one can be guaranteed. Requesting to pay for more than two location options cannot be accepted due to room availability. 
 
Check your child's eligibility by CLICKING HERE
Having Trouble? You may also view our School Boundaries by clicking here.
Walk limits to bus stops for all aged students is 750 meters. Parents/Guardians are responsible to get their child(ren) to the bus stop. School Boards are responsible for your child(ren) safety once your child(ren) is aboard the school bus.

For a fee we will do our best to accommodate up to two (2) transportation services per student as per the eligible/in-eligible criteria above. Eg. One parent residence may be eligible, while one parent residence may not be eligible or the childcare facility is out of boundaries or not eligible. It will be up to the parent(s) to find alternate arrangements and/or pay any necessary transportation fees.

Urban (within city limits of GP) - Parents with children in Pre-Kindergarten are required to transport their child to a Pre-Kindergarten program unless alternate transportation is designated by the Supervisor of Early Learning and the child is eligible.

 

Rural - Parents with children in a Pre-Kindergarten can be transported to a Pre-Kindergarten program by school bus only if an older responsible sibling is riding. The older sibling must assist the Pre-K child to board and un-board the bus safely. They also must also assist them in finding a seat and ensure they do not slide off when the bus stops or turns.