TRANSPORTATION REQUESTS & ADDRESS UPDATES

Students from eleven school districts are enrolled at the York Academy. Most of our sending districts provide transportation to and from school. Since York City School District is so close, they do not provide busing. The only exception is for students who live in the Colony Park Neighborhood near Route 30.

From the time your child starts at the York Academy, and every year after, you will need to complete a Request for Transportation form. It's important for us to know if your child needs transportation, and if not. If they do, Linda Albright (Transportation Coordinator) will contact your home district to make the necessary arrangements.

Please Note: If you move to a new home - within or outside of your original home district - we need to know.  Mrs. Albright will coordinate details behind the scenes to ensure your child is picked up at the correct address on their first day of school.

Questions or need to update your address? Contact Linda Albright at (717) 801-3900, ext. 1404 or [email protected].

Since York Academy does not provide transportation to and from school, we are unable to make any changes to bus/van routes. If you have questions or concerns throughout the school year, please reach out to the transportation office in your "home" school district. Click here to view a list of contacts.

The doors to both schools open at 7:30 a.m. This year, students are welcome to have breakfast (and lunch) at no cost. If your child would like breakfast, please remind them to go straight to the cafeteria when they get to school. Breakfast is available until 7:45 a.m. and all students must be in class by 8 a.m. to start the day. 

Parking and traffic flow around the Lower School is very different this year, and we must "UKnight" and be patient with one another.

Unfortunately, we may no longer park in the gravel lot across from the playground. Knowing that loss would be significant to our school community, our Administration met multiple times with various entities and departments, including the York City Police Department, Traffic Bureau, the City of York, neighboring businesses, and a consultant. Although this plan is not ideal, we must move forward.

We must also be respectful of our neighbors and not park in the large IRE lot across from the Lower School entrance or the apartment lot next to Cherry Lane. If you're an Upper School parent, please do not park in the lot behind Central Family Restaurant since it's only for their customers. 

Please Note: If you do not have to leave quickly after drop-off or pick-up, please help us by parking in the lot at Smalls Field and walking to the school. Even a few less cars in the bottleneck at Cherry Lane would make an impact for everyone. Smalls Field is next to Keystone Kidspace (31 Hamilton Ave.).

LOWER SCHOOL MORNING DROP OFF

• The major change is that parking in the gravel lot is not an option.

• From about 7:15 - 8:15 a.m., W. North Street is one way from the stop sign at the intersection of Beaver Street and W. North Street to the light at N. George Street. That means that if you are on N. George Street, you cannot turn onto W. North Street during that time.

• From N. George Street, an option would be to turn onto Hamilton Avenue, pass the Upper School, continue to the light, and turn left onto Beaver Street.  (For reference, Hamilton Avenue is the intersection where the Upper School, Central Family Restaurant and Keystone Kidspace meet.)

LOWER SCHOOL DISMISSAL:

• Parents may use Cherry Lane during dismissal, but first they must sign the Parent Pickup Contract and bring it to the office to receive a Pickup Pass (vinyl window cling).

• Anyone who will be picking up children will need a pass. This includes grandparents, other relatives, babysitters, etc. Copies of the contract are available in the office. The cling/pass should be placed at the top right area inside the windshield.  Make sure it's visible when coming through the lane. To keep our students safe, adults who do not have a Pickup Pass (cling) visible in their vehicle may not enter Cherry Lane.

• Again, if you do not have to leave quickly, please park at Smalls Field, and walk to the school. Even one less car makes a difference at the Cherry Lane bottleneck.

• From about 3 - 4:15 p.m., all traffic heading north on Beaver Street (toward the bridge/creek) must turn right onto W. North Street, pass the school, and continue to the light at N. George Street. 

• All traffic heading south on Beaver Street (toward the city) must turn left at the stop sign at W. North Street. Continuing straight on Beaver Street from 3 -4:15 p.m. is not an option.  

• New stop signs are in place. One is on N. Beaver Street, shortly before the intersection with W. North Street. It's right before the train tracks and is easy to miss. Taking Beaver Street toward the city (south)? The other one is where Beaver Street intersects with W. North Street. Everyone must turn left onto W. North Street from 3 - 4:15 p.m. since Beaver Street is one way headed north. With the addition of those two stop signs, it's now an all-way stop at the intersection of Beaver Street and W. North Street. 

Unless there is a special schedule, all students are officially dismissed by 3:25 p.m. Staff will stay with children in the playground area at the Lower School until 3:30 p.m. At 3:30 p.m. we will take any remaining students to the front office to be watched by staff while we call their parents.

We appreciate every effort you can take to pick up your child on time, and we understand that emergencies happen. However, after two late pick-ups you will receive a letter from the school. After the third late pick-up, you will be required to meet with the Transportation Coordinator and Administration. 

If any of these situations apply, you must let us know by 1:30 p.m. on the day of the change: 
•  Your child is leaving early for an appointment (ex. dentist/doctor)
•  Your child will be not be picked up (Cherry Lane) 
•  Your child is not riding the bus/van as usual
•  Your child is riding the bus home with another child
•  Your child is not riding the bus to an after-school program
•  Any other transportation changes

The 1:30 p.m. deadline is strictly for your child's safety. We must make changes behind the scenes, so our teachers, staff and administrators know and can account for every student during dismissal, which is a very busy time.

It's easy to make changes! Just send a note with your child or call us by 1:30 p.m. Thank you!
• Lower School Office (K-6): 717- 801-3900
• Upper School Office (7-12): 717-900-5001

AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS

If you have difficulty picking your child up by 3:30 p.m., please contact one of the following after school programs to arrange childcare.

• JCC: (717) 843-0918
•  Crispus Attucks: (717) 718-9620
•  Lighthouse Youth Center: (717) 843-7995
•  Lots of Love: (717) 962-0305
•  Sunshine Day Care: (717) 846-2273
•  Fairview Early Learning Center: (717) 900-1962
•  PA Preparatory Academy: (717) 817-2188 
•  Magical Days Learning Center: (717) 764-1750
•  YWCA Childcare Center: (717) 845-2631

Questions? Please contact Transportation Coordinator, Linda Albright at (717) 801-3900, ext. 1404 or [email protected]. Thank you!