Below are instructions regarding the drop-off and pickup of students, as well as information for student drivers:

AM Drop-Off:

Parents/guardian, who drive your child to school, are reminded to drop off students at the entrance of the auditorium or near the tennis court lot. Please DO NOT drop off students in the bus lane or th teacher’s parking lot directly in front of the High School entrance. After being dropped off near the tennis courts or the auditorium, students will walk along the sidewalk to the main entrance to enter the building.

If you are trying to enter campus from the West (from Downtown Mars), please plan to turn right into either of the entrances on Route 228 (red arrows). If you enter the western gate, you can drop students at the tennis court entrance or continue through the teacher’s parking lot to drop students at the auditorium.

If you are entering campus at the eastern gate off of Route 228, please drive straight towards the auditorium and drop your student off in Area 1 on the map below. You will then exit out the northern exit on Three Degree Road and use the roundabout to return to the light on Route 228.

If you are trying to enter campus from the North (Adams Park-Three Degree), East, or South (from Middlesex), please plan to enter campus via the roundabout onto Milky Way (gold arrows). You will then drop your students off in Area 2. To exit, you will turn left after Area 2 and exit back out on Milky Way. No parent/guardian or student traffic is permitted in the bus lane at any time.

PM Pick Up:

Parents/guradians can pick up students in the afternoon at the same locations where they drop them off in the morning. However, the campus will be closed to traffic while buses are entering, loading, and exiting. It is recommended that you enter before 2:15 p.m. to line up at the Auditorium (Area 1). Do not block bus traffic in any way. You can also enter after 2:35 p.m. to line up behind the buses in Area 2. Buses must enter from Milky Way and line up in front of the school. Parents cannot block traffic on Milky Way or at the west end of the building by the tennis courts, preventing the buses from entering. If you are picking up from Area 2, please do not arrive until after 2:25 p.m. to avoid creating a backup onto Milky Way and blocking the buses. If you need to arrive before 2:25 p.m., please use the Auditorium pick-up location (Area 1). 

Student Drivers:

All students driving on campus need to exercise caution when navigating the school's parking lots. Please take your time and drive slowly so you can stay aware of your surroundings. Please try to arrive early to give yourself extra time so that you can make it through bag check and to homeroom on time (7:35 late bell). Accidents often happen when you are rushing, so please try to avoid that situation and get here early. Doors open at 7:15 AM.

Arrival: Student drivers can enter campus from three locations: either the Route 228 entrances or the roundabout behind the building. Student drivers should not be in the bus lane at any point during morning arrival. Please use the lot adjacent to the bus lane (teacher’s lot) if you need to get from one end of campus to the other. Please remember to drive slowly on campus, as there will be people walking to the building from their cars.

Dismissal: Student drivers can exit at four points: onto 228 (right turn only from both exits), onto Three Degree (right turn only), or onto Milky Way to the roundabout. Students will also be able to follow the buses off campus via the Three Degree Road exit at the end of the day (right turn only).

Roundabout/Traffic Circle:

Navigating traffic circles can be a challenge if you have never encountered them before. The District asks that all motorists be mindful of additional traffic in this area during school arrival/dismissal times.

Here is a resource from PennDOT for you: How to Navigate Roundabouts https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNXRlWgAVOg.

Approaching and Entering:

1. When approaching the roundabout, SLOW DOWN and be prepared to yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk.
2. Approach the Yield Line, look to the left, and check for approaching traffic within the roundabout. CIRCULATING TRAFFIC HAS THE RIGHT OF WAY.
3. Enter the roundabout when there is a safe gap in traffic. If necessary, stop at the Yield Line until there is a safe gap in traffic.

Circulating and Exiting the Roundabout:

1. Once you have entered the roundabout, proceed counterclockwise to your exit point. YOU now have the right of way.
2. As you approach your exit, use your RIGHT TURN SIGNAL.
3. Watch for pedestrians in the crosswalk and be prepared to yield.
4. Exit the roundabout

Additionally, MASD is a Non-Walking School District. After a comprehensive review of local traffic patterns, road conditions, and pedestrian safety assessments, our area qualifies as a non-walking district due to hazardous road conditions. This designation means that walking to and from school presents significant safety risks for students. Students are not permitted to walk to or from any school in the Mars Area School District.  Students should have no reason to walk on any hazardous roads, as transportation is provided to all students by the District.