Southwest ISD Back-to-School Safety: What Preserve at Medina River Drivers Need to Know Before Aug. 24
The first day of school will bring a noticeable change to the daily rhythm of Preserve at Medina River.
Southwest Independent School District students return Monday, Aug. 24. School buses, parent vehicles, young pedestrians and teenage drivers will return to neighborhood roads and campus corridors after the summer break.
Drivers should leave additional time and remember that Southwest ISD’s varied schedules will spread school traffic across most of the day.
Southwest ISD School Hours Will Stretch Into the Evening
Elementary schools operate from 8:10 a.m. to 3:40 p.m.
Middle schools and Crossroads/Boot Camp operate from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
High schools operate from 8:55 a.m. to 4:25 p.m.
CAST STEM operates from 9:15 a.m. to 5 p.m., while Palo Alto class times run from 9:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
For Preserve at Medina River, school traffic will not end at the traditional 3 p.m. dismissal. Buses, student drivers and parent vehicles may remain active through the evening commute.
When Must Drivers Stop for a School Bus?
Texas law requires drivers approaching a stopped school bus from either direction to stop when the bus’s visual warning signal is operating.
Motorists should remain stopped until the bus begins moving, the driver signals them forward or the signal turns off.
Yellow lights mean slow down and prepare to stop. Red lights and an extended stop arm mean stop completely.
Does Opposing Traffic Have to Stop?
Drivers traveling in both directions generally must stop on two-lane roads and undivided multilane streets.
Opposing traffic is exempt only when the bus is on another roadway separated by a genuine median, physical barrier or intervening space.
A center turn lane does not automatically create a separate roadway.
Children Face Their Greatest Risk Outside the Bus
Students are particularly vulnerable while waiting, boarding, getting off and crossing the road.
Drivers should look beyond the bus for children approaching from apartment entrances, neighborhood streets or the opposite side of the roadway.
Students should remain away from the curb and should never cross behind a bus.
Parents Should Follow Campus Traffic Patterns
Long lines are common during the first week.
Parents should use designated drop-off areas, allow children to exit on the curb side and avoid stopping in travel lanes.
Drivers should keep crosswalks, intersections and neighborhood driveways open while waiting.
Teenage Drivers Need to Expect a Longer School Day
Teen drivers should remember that younger students may be on the road before high school begins, while CAST STEM and Palo Alto traffic may continue until approximately 5 p.m.
They should maintain additional following distance, avoid phones and expect sudden stops near buses and campus entrances.
Southwest ISD Transportation Information
The district’s back-to-school resources include a bus-route lookup tool, registration information and school planning materials.
Families should confirm their assigned route and stop before Aug. 24. Transportation information should not be assumed to remain unchanged from the previous school year.
Parents should also create a plan for delays during the opening week and make sure younger children know where to wait and who will meet them.
First-Week Delays Are Possible
Routes may take longer while drivers adjust to traffic and confirm new riders.
Residents should remain patient when buses stop longer than expected. Additional time may be needed to ensure that students board, exit or cross safely.
A Safer School Year Begins on Neighborhood Streets
For Preserve at Medina River, the return of Southwest ISD means school traffic beginning before the 7:30 a.m. middle school day and continuing through the 5 p.m. CAST STEM dismissal.
The safest approach is simple: leave earlier, reduce speed, keep phones away and stop completely for buses.
Stay tuned to My Neighborhood News for additional Southwest ISD transportation and school safety updates throughout the 2026-2027 school year.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.