Back to School: New Bus Tracking App
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools families will have access to live school bus tracking beginning today as students prepare to return tomorrow for the 2026-27 school year.
CMS has moved its transportation tracking system from Here Comes the Bus to AlphaPortal. The district says the new system will provide live bus tracking, arrival notifications, bus substitution updates and route alerts through the AlphaPortal app or website.
Bus information, including a student’s transportation assignment, became available Tuesday, Aug. 18.
Families can use AlphaPortal to view transportation assignments and submit requests for ridership, alternate stops and unsafe stops. The system also provides updates on transportation requests through email or text messages.
CMS is encouraging families to make sure their AlphaPortal accounts are set up and that the app is updated before the first day of school. The app is available for iOS and Android devices, and the service can also be accessed through a secure website.
The district expects more than 71,000 students to ride CMS buses each day. CMS said it will operate 750 school buses, including 28 electric buses, for the start of the school year.
Parents are advised to have students arrive at their assigned bus stops at least 10 minutes before the scheduled pickup time. CMS notes that posted times may change as students are added to or removed from routes.
