School buses are returning to roads across the Sandhills as thousands of students begin the 2026–2027 school year.
Monday is the first day of classes for traditional-calendar students in Hoke, Richmond and Cumberland counties. Moore County Schools will welcome students back Wednesday, August 26.
Drivers should prepare for additional traffic around campuses, neighborhood bus stops and school zones during the morning and afternoon commutes. Motorists are reminded to slow down, avoid distractions and remain alert for children walking or bicycling to school.
Yellow flashing lights on a school bus mean the bus is preparing to stop. When its red lights are flashing and the stop arm is extended, drivers must stop and remain stopped until the lights are turned off, the stop arm is withdrawn and the bus begins moving again.
In Moore County, the Sheriff’s Office and North Carolina State Highway Patrol are partnering with Moore County Schools for “Operation Safe Start.” Motorists can expect an increased law-enforcement presence around schools, with deputies and troopers focusing on speeding and other unsafe driving violations.
Parents should also allow additional time during the first few days as families adjust to new bus routes, arrival procedures and school traffic patterns.
Students in Lee and Harnett counties returned earlier in August, meaning school-related traffic is now active throughout much of the Sandhills region.
Sources: Hoke County Schools, Richmond County Schools, Cumberland County Schools, Moore County Schools, Operation Safe Start and NCDOT School Bus Safety.
