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More LAUSD students are riding the bus to school. Here’s why ICE raids boosted ridership
LAUSD's bus fleet now includes 250 electric buses. The vehicles cost about $420,000 each and are funded largely by state and federal dollars, said Daniel Kang, LAUSD's transportation director.
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Mariana Dale
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LAist
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Topline:
The number of Los Angeles Unified students regularly taking the bus to school has increased by about 10% over the last two years, a change prompted in part by families concerned about federal immigration enforcement. On Thursday, district leaders said buses have room for even more riders.
The backstory: During the last school year, an average of 16,800 students rode the bus each day, up from 15,300 students in the 2023-2024 school year. Federal law requires schools to provide transportation for some students with disabilities. The district also prioritizes students in specific academic programs and those with concerns about safety.
What’s new this school year? Nearly three-quarters of the district’s 1,300 buses now run on alternative fuel, including a record-high 250 electric vehicles, according to Daniel Kang, LAUSD’s transportation director. The vast majority of the fleet now has Wi-Fi and technology that allows families to track their students’ bus in real time.
“A student's ability to arrive to school safely and reliably should never depend on a family's income, where they live, or whether they have access to a car,” said Board Vice President Rocío Rivas.
ICE raids led to more riders: There have been several instances of students and parents being detained near Southern California schools since the Trump administration stripped campuses of immigration enforcement protections in 2025.
Last school year, the district provided rides to about 1,000 students whose families worried about immigration enforcement, Kang said Thursday.
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Request a ride: Any family can request a bus ride, but the district sets routes based on demand. The Parent Portal app is the best way to request a ride, Kang said. Parents can also ask school staff, including the principal, or counselors, or call the district’s resource hotline at (213)-443-1300.
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