HopSkipDrive Supports Attendance and Reduces Student Travel Time at SIATech South Bay Charter School

About SIATech South Bay Charter School

Part of a network of public charter high schools with campuses in California, SIATech South Bay aims to educate at-promise students through high-quality, personalized high school diploma options that prepare them for success in college, career and life.

Located in Chula Vista, SIATech South Bay re-engages 16- to 24-year-old students who have dropped out of school, and provides an independent study pathway to earning a high school diploma with a curriculum that integrates technology and academics.

Before HopSkipDrive

Before partnering with HopSkipDrive, public transportation was the only option for SIATech South Bay students. With the school’s unique independent study approach, each student attends school twice a week (or three times if they have an IEP), which means the school’s day-to-day transportation needs vary.

SIATech South Bay was looking to re-engage its students post-pandemic, and the school believed that partnering with HopSkipDrive would be a great way to do so.

“The HopSkipDrive rides have helped build community and encourage students to stay in the program and finish. The rides mainly help them get from home to school or from school to home but sometimes they go to and from their jobs or appointments, as well.”

—Christine Vergara, Instructional Technical Aide,

SIATech South Bay Charter School

Why HopSkipDrive

SIATech South Bay reports having a “great experience” with HopSkipDrive, and in particular has been impressed with:

HopSkipDrive’s timely, attentive customer service
HopSkipDrive’s user-friendly RideIQ platform, which makes it easy to schedule and cancel rides
HopSkipDrive’s ability to support the transportation needs of all students, no matter how far they are from campus
HopSkipDrive’s parent/caregiver app, which streamlines communication and provides real-time visibility into ride progress for a student’s family or guardian

“Customer support is always kind, patient, understanding and thorough. They are quick to problem-solve any issue, and do so with a smile on their face — you can’t see them but they have a positive attitude.”

—Christine Vergara, Instructional Technical Aide,

SIATech South Bay Charter School

How HopSkipDrive Helped

By providing a better option than public transportation, HopSkipDrive has helped SIATech South Bay students overcome transportation challenges that can make it difficult for them to get to school on a regular basis. HopSkipDrive also helped to combat the anxiety some SIATech students were feeling about having to take public transportation to school post-pandemic.

With all students having access to reliable transportation through HopSkipDrive, the school found that commute times for many students decreased while attendance improved.

“HopSkipDrive has helped to save travel time for our students — not only those who live further away but also those who have family responsibilities. . . . Transportation is no longer a factor for missing school, allowing us to engage with more students on a weekly basis.”

—Christine Vergara, Instructional Technical Aide,

SIATech South Bay Charter School