DeKalb County School District School Bus Driver Guide
No CDL needed to apply. DCSD trains you for your commercial license and starts School Bus Drivers at $21.68/hr.
🎁 Limited-time: + free Georgia CDL Passenger & School Bus study guide
DeKalb County School District is the third-largest district in Georgia, enrolling roughly 90,000 students across 137 schools in the northeast quadrant of metro Atlanta, anchored by Stone Mountain. More than 65,000 of them ride a bus each day. The district lists 890 drivers against 1,145 buses, a gap that keeps Transportation hiring through a standing Bus Drivers pool posting. That shortage is the opening for anyone who wants steady public-sector work close to home.
You do not need a commercial driver's license to apply. District materials state that applicants without a CDL can be trained to earn one, and DCSD runs that training in-house. What the district has not published is how long training takes or whether trainees are paid while they license, so confirm both with Transportation before you plan around them. This page lays out the real DeKalb process, what it costs you, and what the job pays.
DeKalb County School District at a glance
The essentials, pulled from official sources. The full pay tables, the exact application walkthrough, and the school calendar are in the guide.
How to become a School Bus Driver in DeKalb County
The path in order. The guide expands every step with the exact forms, links, and figures for DeKalb County School District.
Confirm you qualify before you apply
Georgia sets the minimum age for a School Bus Driver at 18 and sets no state driving-experience minimum, so DCSD sets its own standard. Your record must meet the district's safe-driver program. Serious moving violations, DUIs, and license suspensions are disqualifying. A high school diploma or GED is preferred, not required.
Apply on AppliTrack for the Bus Drivers pool
Start at dekalbschoolsga.org under Employment and click through to the AppliTrack board at applitrack.com/dekalbschoolsga. Search the Transportation category for the standing "Bus Drivers (Transportation)" posting, which stays open until filled. Complete the full application and certify your driving and employment history accurately.
Interview by phone, virtually, or in person
DCSD offers virtual and phone interviews, and you can walk in to any Transportation compound between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. to inquire. The district operates compounds in Tucker, Decatur, and Stone Mountain. Call (678) 676-1200 with your questions about the current starting rate and the next training class.
Clear the screenings after your offer
After a conditional offer you complete a GCIC and FBI fingerprint criminal record check, a DOT 5-panel drug screen, a DOT physical with a Medical Examiner's Certificate, and the annual GaDOE school bus driver physical. Your driving record is pulled, including any out-of-state history. DCSD has not published who pays these costs, so ask Transportation up front.
Earn your CDL through the district's training program
School Bus Drivers need a Class B CDL with the P (passenger) and S (school bus) endorsements. DCSD trains applicants from a regular driver's license: about a week of classroom instruction, then range and road training in air-brake buses, then the three-part skills test. The district's program satisfies the federal ELDT rule. DeKalb does not publish trainee pay or program length.
Finish route training and start driving
Georgia requires at least 24 hours of GaDOE-approved initial training before you transport students. You then ride routes with experienced trainers until you know yours and drive solo. Full-time drivers work 180-day assignments of at least 6 hours a day, with State Health Benefit Plan coverage, a PSERS pension, and a 2% 403(b) match after two years of service.
What's in the full DeKalb County School District guide
35+ pages, twelve chapters, written in plain English — everything above in full detail, plus the parts that change year to year.
Right now, includes a free Georgia CDL Passenger & School Bus endorsement study guide — the exact material on the two written tests, so you pass the first time. Bundled with your DeKalb County School District guide at no extra cost, for a limited time.
The real pay tables
Every step of the DeKalb County School District pay scale, benefits, and the split-shift schedule — the numbers that decide if this fits your life.
The application, walked through
Exactly what to submit and which documents to attach, so you are not knocked out on a technicality.
The interview
The three things every interviewer is really asking, and what to highlight. (Free in the sample.)
Screenings & paid CDL training
Every screening after your offer, who pays for what, and how you are trained toward your CDL.
The school calendar
This year's DeKalb County School District calendar — work days, holidays, and breaks — so you know your real schedule.
Managing a bus full of kids
The passenger-management techniques veteran drivers swear by. (Also free in the sample.)
See inside before you buy
A few real pages from the manual — the interview and passenger-management chapters — so you can judge the quality yourself.
DeKalb County School District bus driver questions
Do I need a CDL to apply to drive for DeKalb County Schools?
No. DCSD materials state that applicants without a CDL can be trained to get a Commercial Driver's License, and the district trains in-house. The standing posting's full qualification text should be confirmed with Transportation at (678) 676-1200 before you apply. If you already hold a Class B with P and S endorsements, that is a plus but not a requirement.
How much do DeKalb County School Bus Drivers make?
The most recent district salary schedule (2025-26) starts a driver at $21.68 per hour, based on 180 work days at 6 hours a day, or about $23,411 a year. The district publishes its pay scale and funds step increases in its FY2027 budget. No sign-on or training bonus is currently documented, so ask Transportation whether any incentive is in effect.
What are the hours and benefits for a DCSD School Bus Driver?
The job is a 10-month, school-calendar position with a split shift: a morning route, a midday gap, and an afternoon route, with no weekends and summers off. Benefits include State Health Benefit Plan coverage, a PSERS pension, and a 2% 403(b) match after two years. No union represents DCSD drivers, so pay and conditions are set by the district.
What's the free CDL study guide?
For a limited time, every district guide comes bundled with a free study guide for your state's CDL Passenger and School Bus endorsements — the two written tests you'll take. It covers exactly what's on those tests so you can pass the first time, at no extra cost.
Is this an official guide from the School District?
No. It is an independent preparation guide, not affiliated with or endorsed by any School District. It organizes the public information into one clear manual so you do not have to dig for it.
How do I get the guide after I pay?
Instantly. Checkout takes about a minute, then you get a download link on the screen and by email. It is a PDF you can open on any phone, tablet, or computer and keep.
Get hired in DeKalb County School District.
The whole hiring process in one guide — pay, forms, contacts, and the calendar, all in order.