The bus system at Sage Hill School is one of the many infrastructures in place to support the Sage Hill vision of educating a bright, motivated and diverse student body.

This vision is expressed on the school’s website. “As part of our effort to make a Sage Hill education accessible to students from all over the region, we offer bus transportation to and from stops in Long Beach, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Tustin, and Santa Ana.”

The buses are contracted with JFK Transportation. They arrive at school at 7:30 a.m. and depart at 5:30 p.m.

“I find it convenient that the bus leaves Sage at 5:30 p.m. so I am able to take the school bus after cross country practice,” said senior Erika Garcia, a student who has used the bus system since her freshman year.

The number of students utilizing the system each year fluctuates on the basis of family interest. Families have the option of purchasing accommodations for the whole year or just multiple one-ride passes. They also have the ability to purchase a one-way plan or a roundtrip plan.

“Recently we had 35 students signed up to ride the various routes. Some one way, some round trip and others just buy a single bus pass to use when it works for their schedule,” said Patricia Hunter, an accounts manager for the business office at school.

Hunter coordinates communications between the JFK bus company and the families utilizing the system.

“My role is essentially liaison between the bus company and the families,” Hunter said. “I handle initial communication with our company and signing parents up for the program, evaluating periodically what is working and not working for the school and families.”

Hunter also explained the significance of the bus system in the context of the school’s geography in Southern California and its mission to support ambitious students who wish to pursue a Sage Hill education.

“Southern California is not known for its public transportation and Sage Hill wants to make sure that we do not miss out on an outstanding student who will contribute to the school community just because they do not live in an area that is geographically convenient to the school or because their parents are not able to drive them to or from school due to work or other timing issues,” she said.