Transportation Fee Overview

Before you pay, you must first register your student for the bus.

All Needham resident families must register their student for the bus, regardless of mileage from school, age or fee status.   Boston-resident students participating in the METCO program must register for the bus through the METCO Program Office.  Students on IEPs who receive transportation as a related service on their IEP will be assigned transportation by the Special Education Office.

If you have partially registered and are returning to the system to pay your child’s fee, please click this link to pay online. Payment also may be made by mail or in person to the Needham Public School Transportation Office. 

The 2024-25 fee for school bus transportation is $415. Payment is due by May 14, 2024.  A $50 fee will be assessed after May 14, 2024, after which time the bus fee will increase to $465.  A payment and registration will be considered “on time” if it is made online on or before May 14, 2024, postmarked by May 14, 2024, or received by the Transportation Office before the due date. The bus fee will be prorated for students who enroll for the bus after February 1 of each school year. 

There is an $840 family cap in place for families with three or more students (increasing to $940 after May 14, 2024.)   

Financial assistance is available for families who qualify under income guidelines, and children eligible for free/reduced lunch do not pay a fee.  Please see below for more information. 

Unfortunately, refunds are provided only under the following circumstances:
● Withdrawal before the May 14, 2024 due date (full refund.)
● Families move out of Needham (prorated refund)
● Student becomes eligible for free transportation based on mileage and grade (prorated refund)
● A child is approved for special education transportation through the Student Services Office (prorated refund.) 

We regret that we are unable to refund a fee for other circumstances. 


Financial Assistance

Financial assistance is available for families who qualify under the income guidelines below.  These guidelines are based on the 2023 Federal Poverty Guidelines for the 48 Contiguous States and the District of Columbia (published below.) 

● Student Fee of $0 - Assessed to students who are determined to be eligible for free/reduced lunch.   Please complete an application for free/reduced lunch at this link, including the form which indicates your consent to sharing eligibility status with the Transportation program, and return to the Nutrition Services Department for processing.

2023 Poverty Guidelines for the 48 Contiguous
State and District of Columbia
Persons/ Family	Poverty	Guideline	Guideline
or Household	Guideline	x2	x4
1	15,060	30,120	60,240
2	20,440	40,880	81,760
3	25,820	51,640	103,280
4	31,200	62,400	124,800
5	36,580	73,160	146,320
6	41,960	83,920	167,840
7	47,340	94,680	189,360
8	52,720	105,440	210,880
For families/ households with more than 8 persons, add $5,380 for each additional person
Source: https://aspe.hhs.gov/topics/poverty-economic-mobility/poverty-guidelines

● Full Fee - Families whose annual income equals or exceeds four times the federal poverty guideline for their family size will pay the full transportation fee per child.

● Family Cap of $840 - The total amount of fees a family will pay is capped at $840.

To apply for financial assistance, please complete the financial assistance form, and return the form, along with the applicable payment, to the Transportation Office at  28 Glen Gary RD, Needham MA 02492 via mail or in person.  

Please note that families should complete and return the financial assistance form to the Transportation Office prior to registering their child(ren) for the bus.

If you have questions about applying for financial assistance, or need assistance, please contact the Transportation Office at 781-455-0400 x11242 or email [email protected].