Drop-Off & Pick-Up Traffic

for Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School

Are you distressed by the traffic? You are not alone. At our urging, the Town of Yarmouth in cooperation with the Cape Cod Commission has initiated a study of the Station Avenue Corridor from Route 6 to Wood Road, inclusive of the Dennis-Yarmouth Schools Campus. The results of the study can be found at the Cape Cod Commission's website. We are hoping that the study leads to various roadway improvements around the schools that will make commutes around drop-off and pick-up times safer and more convenient.  Until that happens, the information on this page will help to keep us on track with safety and efficiency

TRAFFIC

We get a lot of feedback about traffic, drop-off traffic in particular. We have spent considerable time examining the factors. The central problem is volume, too many cars at the same time and it's something we have no control over. Remember, if you are in the traffic, you are the traffic. We did come up with a few suggestions, some tips to help you be safer and more efficient during drop-off and pick-up. We did a traffic study during the fall of 2022 and this is what we learned.

• Between 6:30am. and 7:25am about 180 cars were involved in the drop-off process. Three times more than pick-up

• The vast majority of those cars came through, on average between 7:12am and 7:25am, a thirteen minute span.

• The number of cars increased to as many as 220 in the slightest inclement weather, including fog, light drizzle or a simple overcast sky. If you did not leave early on weather days, you were late.

Some other tricks to mitigate or avoid traffic

• Turn right when you leave the driveway instead of turning back into traffic.

• Have your student ride the bus, they will not be late.

• The school building opens to students at 7:04 am when student supervision becomes available. There is no supervision before that.

We hope this information is helpful. There are more tips in the other sections below, please read on. We review traffic and other plans regularly to make sure that they are up-to-date and as safe and efficient as possible. Your cooperation is always an important part of that equation.

DROP-OFFS

• The rush starts to build around 7:12 a.m., after that you are in TRAFFIC. Arriving a little earlier makes a big difference.

• The high school building now opens for students at 6:45am Please plan your drop-off accordingly.

• All drop-offs and pick-ups are done at the front of the building before, during and at the end of the school day. Drop-offs at the north end of the building (nearest the elementary school) and at the rear of the building are prohibited. 

• Students should never be dropped off on Station Avenue.

• The Drop-off Zone is painted on the driveway in green & white. There is also traditional signage marking the beginning, middle and end of the zone. Drivers should proceed all the way to the end of the marked drop-off zone when delivering their passengers if there is no motorist in front of you and especially if there are cars behind you. Using the whole zone will maximize the number of vehicles that can unload at one time.

• As many as ten to fifteen cars can unload at a time if the entire drop-off lane is utilized. 

• Stopping at the crosswalk, directly in front of the main entrance or at the corner delays the people behind you unnecessarily and prevents unloading the maximum number of vehicles. It also creates a “drive-up window” dynamic leading to one drop-off at a time.

• Avoid leaving large gaps between your car and the vehicle in front of you.

• Stay inside the drop-off lane to allow through traffic to pass on the left.

• When your line of traffic stops inside the drop-off zone, drop-off your passenger(s) wherever you may be in line.

• It’s OK to allow your student to drive to school on his or her learners permit. Resist the temptation to come up with your own spot to change seats; it can be safely done in the drop-off zone. Just be attentive and cautious when getting out of the car during the switch and remember that your fellow motorists appreciate your efficiency.

• On days of inclement weather, you need to leave earlier. Bad weather of any sort can create a dramatic increase in the number of students being dropped off; the worse the weather the more cars at the drop-off, the more time you should allow.

• Turning into the main entrance circle for drop-off or pick-up is prohibited. This area is for parking. It is also a primary emergency vehicle access and must remain clear and passable at all times.

HOW YOU CAN HELP KEEP THINGS MOVING SAFELY & SMOOTHLY

• Pack your passenger’s gear in such a way that it is easy to gather and ready to carry from the vehicle.

• Have that important conversation, sign permission slips and other notes, supply lunch money or other essentials at home or on the way to school. Waiting until you stop in the drop-off area to do these things will create delays for those behind you.

• Please make sure your full attention is on your driving while in the School Zone and drop-off line, make sure to check your mirrors before you pull away from the drop-off zone.

• Never unload your passenger(s) at the left curb. Doing this will require your passenger to cross the bulk of the drop-off traffic. This is an unsafe practice and creates an avoidable hazard.

• Be patient, activity in the drop-off area is occasionally hectic as people learn the pattern or drop-off for the first time.

PICK-UPS

• All parent pick-ups are done at the front of the building. The rear parking lot is reserved for busses, students, faculty and staff until 3:00pm.

• Please use the left curb parking spaces first when they are available.

• Live parking (driver in the vehicle) is permissible in the fire lane during pick-up time and only for overflow. Regular parking in the fire lane is not (ever) permitted.

• When live parking in the fire lane you must go past the front entrance to the area near the band room or generator to make room for cars coming in behind you. Otherwise, the south driveway may become blocked, delaying bus departure and possibly creating other hazards on Station Avenue.

• Please make sure your vehicle is not more than 12 inches from the curb on whichever side of the driveway you are parked to allow through traffic to pass. Being inside the parking space markings along the left curb does not put you in compliance with this regulation.

PARENT & VISITOR PARKING

• Everyone visiting D-Y is expected to use a marked parking space and observe posted parking regulations. Thank you. 

• Parking along the left curb of the front driveway and front parking lot is restricted to visitors on all school days. Students are never allowed to park out front during school.

• Please note that there is NO PARKING along the curb between 6:30am and 7:30am to accommodate drop-off traffic. Parents with appointments or other business during that time are invited to use the front parking lot. We save a few spaces for you. This area is a ONE WAY. The pattern flows in a clockwise manner. Enter at the second right. See Front Lot on the map above.

• District Central Registration is now located at the High School. It has its own entrance just past the High School main entrance. There are two spaces reserved there for families registering new students.