User fees help to defray the cost of the additional optional bus service that the district (MERSD) offers. Massachusetts General Law (MGL) requires MERSD to transport only students residing more than two miles from school. However, because regional school districts receive a state reimbursement for students transported 1.5 miles or further, the MERSD bus fee will only be charged to students who live less than 1.5 miles from their school.

MERSD uses Google Maps to verify distances from school to home.  To verify a distance from home and school, please use the directions option. 

The addresses for the individual schools are as follows:

Essex Elementary School, 12 Story St, Essex, MA

Manchester Memorial Elementary School, 43 Lincoln St., Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA  

Manchester Essex Regional Middle or High School, 36 Lincoln St., Manchetser-by-the-Sea, MA

After bus passes are distributed, which is expected to be during the first two weeks of school, riders will be required to have their bus pass with them to ride the bus.  Prior to the distribution of passes, bus drivers will have a list of registered riders.

Students are required to have their passes to ride the bus. Lost passes can be replaced for a fee of $10.00 by emailing schoolbus@mersd.org.

Space for students residing 1.5 miles or more from school will be guaranteed as long as a student is registered for the bus through our annual registration process.  

Space on a bus for students residing less than 1.5 miles from school will be offered on a first-come, first-serve basis.   

Routes for the new school year are expected to be similar to the prior school year, and will be published prior to the start of school. We will review addresses of registered students for the bus and make adjustments to routes as needed to ensure that stops are appropriate for the majority of riders.

No. Students will only be allowed to ride the school bus to which they are assigned. Transportation is intended for travel to and from a student’s home, not other locations. This is important for planning and for safety reasons, so we know where students should be each day. Students will not be allowed to travel home on a friend’s school bus.