To accommodate ongoing construction on the Mars Area Elementary School Expansion Project, traffic patterns at both the Mars Area Elementary School and Mars Area Primary Center campuses will be modified for approximately the first two weeks of the 2026-2027 School Year.

PARENTS/GUARDIANS ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO UTILIZE THE
DISTRICT’S SCHOOL BUS TRANSPORTATION, ESPECIALLY DURING THE FIRST
FEW WEEKS OF SCHOOL, AS SIGNIFICANT TRAFFIC DELAYS ARE TO BE EXPECTED.

ROAD CLOSURES —

• • ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DRIVEWAY — The Mars Area Elementary School driveway, the main connector roadway between the school and Mars Area Primary Center parking lot, will remain closed to all vehicle and pedestrian traffic.
    
    
  • DOC’S WAY ACCESS ROAD — The Doc’s Way access road, connecting the Mars Area Elementary School campus to Three Degree Road, will be available for School Bus Traffic ONLY. No other traffic will be permitted.

LITTLE DIPPER ACCESS ROAD — The Little Dipper access road, which connects Mars Area Elementary School to the Administration Office/Mars Area Primary Center cafeteria parking lots, will serve as the main access point for all parents/guardians traveling to/from Mars Area Elementary School.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PARENT DROP-OFF/PICK-UP PROCEDURES — Parents/guardians, who are dropping off/picking up students prior to school (8:35 to 8:55 a.m.) or at the end of the school day (3:20 p.m.), will access Mars Area Elementary School via the Little Dipper access road.

Vehicles will be asked to stack in two lanes in the Administration Office parking lot until directed by District personnel to continue down the Little Dipper. At the bottom of the hill, all vehicles will be guided to loop around the parking lot to the right and, again, when directed, to proceed to the school’s main entrance in the front of the building to drop-off/pick-up students. All vehicles will then exit the campus via the Little Dipper.

PRIMARY CENTER DROP-OFF/PICK-UP PROCEDURES — All procedures for morning drop-off (8:35 to 9 a.m.) and afternoon student pick-up (3:25 p.m.) will remain the same with parents/guardians dropping off/picking up students at the school’s cafeteria entrance.

All parents/guardians are asked to use caution as additional school bus traffic will be traveling to/from Mars Area Elementary School via the Little Dipper access road. In addition, please note that access to the Mars Area Primary Center will only be available via Brickyard Road. There will NOT be access to the school via Doc’s Way.

PRIMARY CENTER MIDDAY PICK-UP/DROP-OFF PROCEDURES — Midday AM Kindergarten pick-up (11:40 to 11:55 a.m.) and PM Kindergarten drop-off (12:30 to 12:45 p.m.) will remain at the school’s main entrance. However, instead of vehicles lining up along as the Mars Area Elementary School Driveway, which is temporarily closed, all vehicles will need to line-up along the curb in front of the school, snake through the Primary Center parking lot, and out onto Brickyard Road. Please note that no student is permitted to enter/exit a vehicle until that vehicle is at the curb in front of the school.

All parents/guardians are reminded that these changes are anticipated to be in place for the first few weeks of the 2026-2027 School Year only. As soon as the construction affecting access to Mars Area Elementary School is completed, traffic patterns at both the school and Mars Area Primary Center will revert to normal. Any changes will be communicated in a timely manner.

Mars Area School District is continuing to work closely with construction crews to limit impacts to school traffic. The District appreciates your patience and cooperation, as we will continue to evaluate school traffic patterns throughout the construction project, and we apologize for any inconvenience.