What Student Transportation Services Are Available for Massachusetts Schools?
GoKid is a leading school carpool platform used by public, private, and charter schools nationwide. It’s free for parents and gives schools a powerful way to improve transportation reliability.
GoKid helps Massachusetts
schools solve student
transportation barriers, reduce
congestion, and support families.
Boston ranks 4th worst for traffic delays in the US, and Massachusetts faces critical bus driver shortages affecting school transportation statewide. This, combined with long cross-city commutes, unpredictable MBTA schedules, and winter weather, can make school transportation a major pain point for public, private, and charter schools and their families.
Why do Boston schools need a carpooling solution?
Boston traffic delays cost drivers 79* hours annually, straining families who drive kids to school every day.
For some families, mass transit is not feasible, or kids are too young to ride unattended.
The bus driver shortage and bus delays create a burden for parents and affect attendance.
Budgets are strained with the cost of school buses surpassing $1,200+ per student annually.
*INRIX 2024 Global Traffic Scorecard
Why schools nationwide choose this alternative student transportation solution
GoKid is a leading alternative school transportation platform that provides relief by empowering school parents to team up on carpooling. And it’s free to parents when schools license the program.
Here’s what your school will get when you license GoKid:
SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION BENEFITS
-
Minimal effort or time required
- Measurable program - Admin Portal tracks usage
- A dedicated customer success manager supports implementation
- GoKid provides all customer support to parents
- Ongoing program support tools and best practices provided
SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION BENEFITS
- Provides a school transportation solution when none exist, or
- Supplements existing bus routes and the MBTA
- Reduces drop-off/pickup congestion and parking demands
- Builds resilience in school transportation
- Supports after-school activities
FAMILY BENEFITS
- Free for families—equitable transportation access
- Mobile app and web app
- Real-time GPS tracking for parents
- Automated parent notifications
- Community Builder
SAFETY & COMPLIANCE
- FERPA-compliant data security
- Available only to verified parents within the same school
- Opt-out available
What school say about this school transportation solution
How school transportation options compare
| OPTION | COST TO SCHOOL | BEST FOR | REQUIREMENTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| GoKid Carpool Program | Annual fee* approx. $10 per student/year | When there are no, or not enough, school buses | Quick setup, admin portal, verified school community, parents self-organize |
| Additional School Bus Routes | $1,200+ per student/year | When full capacity can be reached, balanced with reasonable transit times | Requires a higher budget for drivers, vehicles, and insurance |
| Paid Ride Services | $30-100/day per student | Occasional use | Expensive, not practical for daily school transportation |
Option
cost to school
Best for
requirements
GoKid Carpool program
Annual fee* approx. $10 per student/year
When there are no, or not enough, school buses
Quick setup, admin portal, verified school community, parents self-organize
additional school bus routes
$1,200+ per student/year
When full capacity can be reached, balanced with reasonable transit times
Requires a higher budget for drivers, vehicles, and insurance
pais ride services
$30–100/day per student
Occasional use
Expensive, not practical for daily school transportation
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost structure for schools?
The cost of the program is structured as an annual Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) fee,
based on the number and size of school, starting at $2999 for a petite school including
customer support.
● Petite School (<200 students) Annual fee $ 1,999.00
● Small School (200-500 students): Annual fee of $3,999.
● Medium School (500-900 students): Annual fee of $5,999.
● Large School (900-1400 students): Annual fee of $7,999.
● Extra Large School (over 1400 students): Annual fee of $9,999.
There is also an annual technology and customer support fee of $1,000 -2,000
depending on the size of the school. Here’s what goes into our pricing.
For school districts and multiple year contraction, we offer significant discounts. Contact
us at schools@gokid.mobi for a personalized quote.
Which types of schools is GoKid suitable for?
GoKid Connect is ideal for public schools, private schools, and charter schools.
Many private schools do not provide buses and want to provide parents an affordable
transportation alternative. For public and charter schools, we often help to supplement
their existing bus routes.
How long does implementation take?
GoKid Connect can take be between 1-3 weeks to implement, based on a few key
factors:
● School’s Approval Processes: The time it takes for the school to review and approve the program.
● Contract Signing: The speed at which the contract can be finalized and signed.
● Availability of Data: The promptness in providing the necessary data set for setting up the program.
In some instances, we have successfully set up a school with GoKid within just 2-3
days. For school districts, the timeframe can be longer depending on their budgeting
cycles. The overall speed of implementation largely depends on the efficiency of these
preparatory steps.
Do parents pay?
No. Typically, our school customers will pay the license fees and the service is offered
free of charge to all families affiliated with the school. Additionally, families gain
complimentary access to GoKid Connect’s Premium features, including:
● Live tracking of vehicles
● Customized notifications
● Ability to view the history of their carpool
Ready to solve your school trasportation challenges?
Join other schools and districts using GoKid to address student transportation, reduce congestion, and support families. Here’s how to get started:
step 1: Free Consultation
Schedule a 30-minute Zoom to discuss your school's specific transportation challenges and goals.
step 2: Custom Setup
Our team configures GoKid for your school, creates a communications plan, supports with materials, and trains program admins.
step 3: School Launch
Launch to families using our communications materials and support. Most schools and districts can launch within 2–4 weeks.
step 4: Ongoing Support
Dedicated customer success manager, regular check-ins, monthly newsletters, and continuous optimization.