Drop-Off, Pick-Up, Parking, and Building Access

On this page, please find information about drop-off and pick-up, on-campus parking, bus transportation, and building access procedures.

Click on a tab:

Drop-off and Pick-up

Please be patient during the drop-off and pick-up process. The first days and weeks of school always bring delays in the system as we navigate the process together. It will get better!

DROP-OFF MAP:

grades 1–5

  • Grades 1–5 morning drop-off. Lower School students (Grades 1–5) will be dropped off at the Pearlstone entrance (a.k.a. The Lower School entrance or the “bus circle”) on the back side of the main building.

    Follow the fork on Park School Drive to the right; proceed to the end of the Athletic Center parking lot; circle back and drop off your child at the Pearlstone entrance.

    Middle and Upper School siblings of Lower School students can be dropped off at the Blaustein wing pathway (near the former Athletic Center courtyard). 

    For families with Lower School students (Grades 1–5) and Pre-K or Kindergarten siblings, please drop off your Lower Schooler FIRST; then drop off your child(ren) at the Kindergarten building.

    There is early morning care available for students in Grades 1–5 in the cafeteria from 7:30-8 a.m. for families who require an early drop-off due to work schedules or other constraints. Students may be dropped off at the Pearlstone entrance.
  • Grades 1–5 afternoon pick-up. Pick-up is in FRONT of the main building (at the Meyerhoff Theater overhang). Once carpool traffic extends back to the fork in the road on Park School Drive, cars coming down Park School Drive will be directed to bear right and proceed around the bus circle at the rear of the building, and then back to the carpool lane. Grades 1–5 pick-up begins at 3:15 p.m.

    To streamline the process, Middle and Upper School siblings should join their Lower School sibling(s) at the Meyerhoff overhang.

Pre-K and Kindergarten

  • Pre-K and Kindergarten drop-off.
    The school day begins at 8:30 a.m. Classroom doors open at 8 a.m. and you are more than welcome to park in the parking lot (there are spots designated for Pre-K and K drop-off and pick-up) and walk your child to the classroom at that time. There is early morning care available in the Kindergarten multi-purpose room from 7:30-8 a.m. for families who require an early drop-off due to work schedules or other constraints.
  • Pre-K and Kindergarten pick-up.
    Kindergarten dismissal is at 3:05 p.m. The Kindergarten carpool line is intended only for those who plan to pick up their children and leave campus immediately. For those with siblings in the first through fifth grades: Please pick-up the older sibling first before heading into the Kindergarten carpool circle. This will alleviate the need to re-enter the ongoing Lower School carpool traffic. Should you wish to stay on campus beyond 3:10 p.m., please do not leave your car unattended in the carpool line.

MIDDLE SCHOOL AND UPPER SCHOOL

  • DRIVERS OF MIDDLE AND UPPER SCHOOL STUDENTS:

    Drop-off for Middle and Upper School students will be at the front of school — at the Meyerhoff overhang.

    Pick-up for Middle and Upper School students will be at the far end of the main lot next to the pond (at the awning). Drivers should turn left after the Lieberman Building (stone cottage), go down the parking lane, and turn right at the end of the parking lane to get in that carpool line. Upper School pick-up at the awning begins at 3 p.m. and Middle School pick-up begins at 3:15.

PICK-UP MAP:

NOTE: Afternoon bus riders will depart from the Lower School “bus circle” outside of the Lower School entrance.

Morning Egress

To help expedite departures in the morning following drop-off, we will open our supplemental exit road that runs out of the upper parking lot. This exit is intended for those making RIGHT TURNS onto Old Court Road — toward Falls Road. Those turning left onto Old Court (towards Greenspring Avenue), should follow Park School Drive straight to our regular exit.

Parking

Please follow these guidelines when parking on campus: (Note: guidelines may be modified during special events.)

  • The main lot (at the front of the school) is open to visitors, employees, and senior student parking. 
  • The Athletic Center lot is open to visitors and employees. The lot is only a route to Lower School (Grades 1–5) drop-off and drop-off of the Middle and Upper School siblings of Lower School students. Please drive slowly through the lot, mindful of pedestrians.
  • The “upper” lot (across from the Lower School playground) is reserved for students — juniors and seniors. There is no employee or parent parking permitted in the upper lot.
  • Parking on the pasture (just beyond the upper lot) will be opened for large on-campus events and overflow parking, weather permitting.
  • Parking in the spaces adjacent to the Lower School (on the access road to the Athletic Center) is reserved for employees.

General Traffic Safety

The State Highway Administration has placed flashing warning lights on Old Court Road prior to Park School Drive. The flashing lights are on timers and will only be active during our carpool times, both morning and afternoon. These lights are to warn drivers to slow down and proceed with caution while passing our school.

Some helpful reminders for all:

  • Respect posted speed limits, traffic flow markings, and instructions by our traffic officers, Security personnel, Facilities personnel, and all Park School staff members.

    The maximum safe speed on Park School Drive is 19 mph. In pedestrian areas, please do not exceed 12 mph. In the rear of the building, where visibility is limited, proceed with extra caution as sight lines are limited.
  • Slow down and use extra caution when approaching any pedestrians and crosswalks, and while driving through all parking areas.

    Yes, please slow down. Grant the right of way to all pedestrians.
  • Pay close attention. Put down your cell phone while driving.

    Cell phone use while driving is not permitted.
  • Do not allow your child to exit on the traffic side of the vehicle. When dropping off your child, make sure they exit the vehicle on the curb side.
  • Be patient. Be kind. Please do not attempt to circumvent the systems, traffic patterns, and instructions that are intended to keep our community safe and to keep traffic moving efficiently. 

Bus Transportation

Park offers bus transportation to and from many areas in Baltimore City, Baltimore County, and Howard County.

The fee for this service is based on one-way or round-trip travel and number of transported children per family.

Click here for details regarding all bus routes including community-stop locations, timing, and links to fee information and registration procedures.

Building Access

Park buildings are equipped with an electronic controlled access system. In the first weeks of school, students in Grades 6–12 will be provided with a student I.D. that will serve as their student account card and building access card. The I.D. should be displayed at all times (lanyards will be provided), and, during school hours, the cards will provide building access at designated entrances. To enter the building, students (or employees) hold their access cards in close proximity to the keypad by the door, and the door will unlock temporarily.

I.D./purchasing cards will be created for students in the Lower School (Pre-K through Grade 5) and will be kept on file. Teachers and staff will carry building access cards and will provide entrance into the building following time on the playground or after other outdoor activities on campus.

Building Hours

During the school year, the building hours for students will be as follows:

7:30 a.m.– 6 p.m., Monday through Friday:

  • Upper School students may arrive as early as 7:30 a.m. 
  • Middle School students may arrive as early as 7:30 a.m.
  • Lower School students may arrive as early as 8 a.m.
  • Pre-K and Kindergarten students may arrive as early as 8 a.m.

    Lower School early drop-off is available beginning at 7:30 a.m. for parents who need this service to help them get to work on time. Due to limitations in space and staffing, we ask that families refrain from using early drop-off unless it is necessary for work commitments. Please plan to drop off your children after 8 a.m. Pre-K and Kindergarten students may be dropped off at the Kindergarten building and gather in the multi-purpose room; Students in grades 1–5 may be dropped off at the Lower School entrance (bus circle), and will proceed to the cafeteria.

All students should be picked up by 6 p.m. or immediately following a supervised school activity that runs later than 6 p.m.

Saturdays:
8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. — All students in Park buildings must be directly supervised by a faculty member.

Building Access for Parents and Other Visitors

The Park School welcomes parents and other visitors to Park buildings.

All visitors should check in at the reception desk in the main lobby in order to sign in and to receive a visitor badge. (Quick drop-offs for forgotten lunches, instruments, uniforms, etc. do not require sign-in or a visitor badge. Please visit the reception desk and/or contact a divisional office.)

Use the call box to contact a member of our security staff to gain entry to the building. In general, all visitors should use the main entrance. In the event that a parent needs to access, for example, the Lower School entrance, it is helpful to identify your location when speaking into the call box. “This is Sam Smith’s parent at the Lower School entrance.”