Transportation to School and Academic Outcomes: A Systematic Review

This 2022 literature review synthesizes 26 studies examining the relationship between school transportation and academic outcomes for K-12 students. Key findings show that longer travel times and transportation challenges generally correlate with worse academic outcomes — unless those transportation burdens result in access to higher-quality schools, which can offset transportation challenges. The study authors emphasize that transportation difficulties disproportionately affect students of color and those from low-income households, exacerbating risk factors that already interfere with attendance and achievement.