teacher

bus driver

fleet mechanic

security guard

program assistant

The Potomac School

Im just going to go over my experience, and what is listed in the job description to better inform other drivers who might be interested in working here. Starting pay when I started at The Potomac School in March of 2022 was $26.96/hour, they’re now starting drivers at 27.75 This is “competitive,” with only FCPS in the area, whom are starting at $26.05/hour, but their bonus is less than FCPS’s $2000 bonus, at $1500.

The newest posting is accurate, once you’re on an assigned route without substitute driver pay, you’ll be netting around 15 hours total of work per week, but as there is a lot of turnover within the drivers, so you may or may not find yourself with the sub denomination, which they don’t mention anywhere in the listing, and is paid at a flat 4 hours per day; 2 for the morning and 2 for the afternoon. This lack of communication can make some drivers feel like they’re being shortchanged when they get moved onto a permanent route, because, they have slowly and surely been reducing the number of hours paid to each route; even with a “pay increase,” the net amount that you’ll take home on your check will be lower than when you had started. 

This was ultimately the cause of my leaving this last semester, I was making around $76/day after tax as my route had dwindled from a total of 3 hours and 50 minutes per day, to 2 hours and 45 minutes a day when I had left, netting about $29 less per day, than last year, an effective 10-20% pay decrease from when I started on sub pay, even though you’re getting a “raise.” If you’ve got more than 3 years of experience with your CDL and have managers willing to corroborate your experience with FCPS, you can start at $27.76. 

The area around the campus itself has transformed dramatically over the years, traffic and road construction are uncontrollable time factors when you’re driving a school bus and somedays traffic is great in the area and somedays it’ll make you doubt whether or not you want to do it anymore. 

The aforementioned turnover amongst the drivers is bad because it usually means the mechanics are forced to fill in routes, taking them off their duties towards the fleet, which, they are being mistreated on, for the sheer amount of volume of repairs and busses they are going through. I can’t speak for the last few months but I know morale amongst the drivers was low when I left, not because I left, but just watching the handling of it.

  I am not the very best driver out there, I understand that; but telling the sub driver that was replacing me, on the last day, “maybe you can do the route the right way, not the WRONG way,” within ear shot of the outgoing driver, isn’t the most professional way to handle business even if there were disagreements about how things should be done. 

 When you put in application for the Potomac School, consider, the commute from your location, your tolerance for an air of austerity around campus, and what your pay may look like following the substitute period.

Best Wishes. 

Let me first begin by saying that you will be met by some of the nicest folks upon a beautiful campus. Everyone is incredibly kind and welcoming, and you’ll likely feel excited about your position from day one. The sense of community among colleagues is strong, and the environment fosters collaboration and connection.

That said, there are significant challenges to be aware of. Compensation is notably low compared to market standards, and salary negotiations often start well below what would be considered fair. It’s important to research the market value for your position and advocate for yourself, as the school has a tendency to start employees at a low rate and keep them there while increasing responsibilities. Job descriptions may not always fully capture the extent of the workload, so be prepared for additional tasks beyond your initial expectations.

Turnover has been high recently, which speaks to the growing dissatisfaction among faculty and staff. Many employees who were once dedicated to the school’s mission have left due to burnout, lack of advancement opportunities, and an increasingly corporate atmosphere. What was once a warm, holistic school culture has shifted toward a more business-driven model, with leadership decisions contributing to a colder work environment.

It’s also crucial to remember that Human Resources exists to protect The Potomac School—not you as an employee. Don’t be fooled by the friendly facade; the HR department is not your advocate and will ultimately prioritize the institution's interests over staff concerns. Many have found this out the hard way after seeking support, only to realize they were met with indifference or worse.

If you’re considering a position here, set clear boundaries and ensure that your role aligns with your expectations. While most of the people and campus are wonderful, the overall work environment has evolved, and it’s important to enter with a realistic perspective.

My experience with the transportation department at The Potomac School was extremely disappointing.

There is clear favoritism among a select group of drivers who consistently receive full 40-hour schedules, while others are given inconsistent split shifts of two hours in the morning and two in the afternoon. Morale within the department is very low, and there is little sense of teamwork or fairness.

Communication from transportation management is poor. There is no structured training plan; instead, drivers are simply placed on new routes with no preparation. Last-minute changes are common, and safety does not appear to be prioritized.

Bus cleanliness is unacceptable. Buses are often filthy, trash cans overflow, and basic standards of maintenance are not enforced. Pre-trip inspections are not consistently performed, which raises serious safety concerns.

Winter driving conditions are handled poorly, with drivers expected to operate in situations that feel unsafe. Management does not advocate strongly for driver or student safety.

There are also concerning supervisory issues. The dispatcher frequently arrives late to distribute assignments and appears distracted while on duty. Expectations are inconsistent and accountability is lacking.

Overall, the department needs stronger leadership, better communication, consistent safety enforcement, and improved working conditions. Student transportation should be held to a much higher standard.


When you hire on at Potomac School, you are promised $26.96 per hour and a 4 hour minimum guarantee, with promises of extra work on field trips and late runs.  But in reality, you only get the 4 hours if you are a permanent substitute bus driver.  If you are assigned a route, you probably will be paid less than 4 hours per day.   As far as field trips and late runs, they will rarely be available.   You will only get a late run as a substitute driver when a driver takes off, and there are really very few  worthwhile field trips, and the good paying trips  are always assigned to a select few  drivers.  So in reality you will be  lucky to make a gross income of $108 per day over the course of the school year.  After paying federal, state. social security and health insurance costs, you will be lucky to have a disposable income of $75 per day to show for a job with a split shift that consumes most of your day.   And your commuting to work twice per day!  Do yourself a favor, take your CDL and your experience and sell your services to a real transportation company that will pay you a real, livable wage!  I left after years of service and doubled my income with a great company in less then a week!

The Potomac School is a wonderful place to work and for children to go to school.  It is an old school established in a very affluent section of McLean, Virginia. Wonderful place to work...everyone was very police and considerate of each other...It was like a dream school...we went on field trips in DC almost every week...my children came with me since they were little then.  It was a difficult commute, but well worth it...Salary was well above that of public school.

A typical day entails either preparing for an upcoming event or evaluating a prior event. Lots of work goes into organizing  events as it's an ideal way to cultivation and increase our donor base. 

Management is responsive and open to all comments, however with our culture, there is only so much room for change, as people enjoy how things currently operate. 

The most difficult part of the job is operating under tight deadlines. Conversely, when deadlines are met, the work is appreciated.

The leadership in the Upper School, and until recently, in the highest positions of the school, Potomac values keeping one's head below the level of the foxhole; another analogy would be the 'ostrich in the sand' approach to management. If, however, you value working with smart and motivated students, even smarter colleagues (who sadly don't remain at the school long enough because of said management philosophy) and are willing to avoid or ignore the managerial disasters, this is a great workplace.

Good place to work if you have no kids or are retired. Work/life balance can be tricky. Some kids can get out of hand.  I love the kids i mainly worked with. Love the Faculty there. Toxic atmosphere within transportation be careful who you talk too. Just keep it professional and keep people out your business. You will get a very nice welcome from everyone. Did I say the kids I mainly work with and there parents are awesome.The manager of transportation is awesome too. Hope this helps.

What is the best part of working at the company?
none the place sucks , management’s terrible 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
management , not organized, people quit very often, managers play favorites 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
worst place ever, management is not good , can’t keep employees 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
a nightmare , the shop is the worst, built 80  - to 100 years ago , no lifts , work is done on the floor

This school provides many opportunities for advancement with the right advocates in your corner.  

Diverse classes for students to choose from. Each year the curriculum committee lets teachers develop new courses for students to chose from as electives.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Teacher 5 salaries reported	$64,200 per year
Bus driver 3 salaries reported	$26.97 per hour
Fleet mechanic 2 salaries reported	$27.50 per hour
Security guard 1 salary reported	$21.00 per hour
Program assistant 1 salary reported	$27.50 per hour

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