Challenge is among three schools in the Edmonds School District designated as “choice schools” (Madrona and Maplewood being the other two). For students who do not reside within the service area of these choice schools, school bus service is available from and to other neighborhood elementary schools in the district.

The district website has a “school finder” tool on its site for finding bus route information. Start at the district’s Transportation page and select the Neighborhood School Finder link. Plug in the requested information and the system will generate a list that includes your neighborhood school and the three choice schools. Click on the link for “Challenge” and it will give you the stop (school) it determines is nearest your home and the scheduled pick-up and drop-off times for the Challenge bus.

Some important things to know or keep in mind:

• At this time, the destination/arrival times listed are estimates: Terrace Park will have a new start and end time this year, and the times on the schedule are estimates–although they have usually been pretty close. Families are advised to arrive at least five minutes before the posted times. Some routes may change if the district’s estimates of ridership prove to be different enough from actual ridership to warrant changes in the routing or schedule.
• You are not obligated to use the stop the transportation department web tool suggests: Frequently, the school it suggests isn’t your neighborhood school as the tool will send you to the school that is closest to the address you provide rather than going by actual school service area boundaries. Choose whichever stop is most convenient for you, but be consistent–don’t change stops. We have great bus drivers, and they make a concerted effort to keep track of which kids get on and off at which stops. If you need to make an exception for your child to use a different stop, please make a point of letting the driver know that day. Unless there has been some change in procedure, the same driver will pick up and drop off students each day.
• Get to know your stop-mates: It’s entirely possible that the nearest bus stop for your student(s) is too far for them to walk to and from safely without an adult. Parents at these stops often swap contact information so when emergencies arise and you can’t be at the stop on time some other trusted parent can help you out.
• Learn your bus number and the route sequence: Each “choice” school has its own bus to transport its out of area students, therefore, several buses may be lined up at your stop each morning. Know which number bus your student is to ride. It is the number that will be painted on the bus itself, and if a substitute bus is sent, a sign with the correct number will be posted in one of the front windows of the bus to indicate the route. Also knowing the order of the bus stops can be helpful in case you ever find yourself having to catch the bus at a different stop.

The district will send out information (and post on its website) details on bus riding, snow routes, etc. Keep an eye out for information that comes to you electronically, through the US mail, and via “kid mail” from the school.