Under the Houston Independent School District's current busing policy, students are eligible for transportation services to and from their zoned school if they reside two or more miles from that school. This brief examines how a student's proximity to their zoned school and access to district-funded transportation impact enrollment decisions.
Key findings:
- The average distance between an elementary school student’s home and their zoned school was 1.1 miles. This average distance increased to 2 miles for middle school students and 2.3 miles for high school students.
- Students who lived within 2 miles of their zoned school were more likely to enroll in that school. The chances of enrolling in a zoned school were 76% for elementary school students, 66% for middle school students, and 68% for high school students.
- Of students living within 2 miles of their zoned school, except for Black students, differences between those enrolled and those who did not existed across economic disadvantage, English learner status, and race/ethnicity.
