<p>My district has bus service for all elementary school students - even if you live right next to the school. Until a few years ago - every elementary student was picked up at their house but in the last few they have changed it to group bus stops at the nearest corner, unless there is a K student in the house - then it is door to door. Middle schoolers more than 1/2 mile get bussed and high school the limit is a mile. </p>
<p>We bought our home specifically so my kid could walk or ride his bike to elementary school (approx 1 mile.) I allowed him to start riding his bike the spring of 1st grade - walking would have taken him forever at that age. Except in bad weather a lot of the kids at his elem school walked. Except for one elementary school in the district - which is on a very busy road with no neighborhoods anywhere near it - kids in my town could walk/ride to their elem school if they lived close enough. </p>
<p>Middle school kids who live in the 2 hamlets closest to where the school is located also walk or rode - but kids from the other 3 hamlets are too far away (some as far as 10 miles.) Ditto for the high school. My home is close to all three so walking/biking always an option. S went to a private high school 15 miles away so obviously he couldn’t walk or bike there. Busing by the home district is required if private school within 15 miles of district. </p>
<p>I think the majority of kids who live close enough to walk often take the bus to school but walk home. The middle school is right down the street from the village center and a lot of the kids walk there after school and go to the coffee shop or pizza place after school, then either walk home or get picked up. Same for high school kids until the get their licenses and then they all drive. </p>