HopSkipDrive Grows School Partnerships by 35% as Company Prepares for Biggest Back-to-School Season Yet

August 26, 2025 at 10:00 AM EDT

CareDrivers collectively earn tens of millions of dollars as company sees significant growth

As HopSkipDrive prepares for what is expected to be its biggest back-to-school season yet, the leading technology company solving complex student transportation challenges is sharing strong growth achieved over the past six months. The company now supports over 13,500 schools, a 35% increase since the beginning of the year. During the same period, its network of partners grew by 28%, and now includes more than 1,280 school districts, government agencies, and non-profits.

This expansion in partnerships demonstrates increasing demand for transportation solutions that support all student populations, reflecting how the company’s supplemental transportation platform uniquely addresses mobility challenges with care:

McKinney-Vento student riders grew by 17%, with HopSkipDrive’s industry-only six-hour booking window supporting students whose housing situations may change frequently.
For students in the foster care system, ridership expanded by 22%, as the company’s network of highly vetted local CareDrivers provides the stability and individualized care these students need.
Career and Technical Education (CTE) ridership grew by 67%, reflecting the nationwide expansion of CTE programming as states increasingly invest in these pathways to meet growing workforce demands.

Behind these numbers is HopSkipDrive’s network of CareDrivers – trusted community members with at least five years of caregiving experience – who collectively earned tens of millions of dollars in supplemental income this academic year.

What sets CareDrivers apart is their deep commitment to building empathetic, supportive relationships with the students they serve, often becoming a consistent and positive presence in riders’ lives. This consistency proves especially crucial for students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). Over 90% of IEP rider and CareDriver pairings were repeat matches, building the trust and familiarity essential for student success.

Expanding its offerings to meet the needs of all students, HopSkipDrive launched wheelchair-accessible vehicle rides and Rider Assistants across all operating cities, while introducing its Car Seat Program – developed in partnership with the company’s Safety Advisory Council – in select markets. The company also introduced Safe Ride InSight, its AI-powered in-ride dashcam that combines visual monitoring with audio recording and is used alongside advanced telematics. Looking ahead, HopSkipDrive announced plans to expand into several new markets, partnering with school districts in Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, North Carolina, and Oklahoma.

“The growth we’ve seen over the past year speaks to a nationwide need we’re uniquely positioned to meet,” said Joanna McFarland, Co-founder and CEO of HopSkipDrive. “Every ride ensures a student can stay in their school, attend their program, and access the support they need. That’s what drives our work every day.”

To support this expansion, HopSkipDrive strengthened its leadership team and operational foundation. The company welcomed David Katcher as Chief Operating Officer and Tyler Baldwin as Chief Revenue Officer, bringing decades of combined experience in scaling technology platforms and driving strategic growth. Additionally, the company made strategic investments to further bolster safety and operations, adding more than 20 new team members across its Trust & Safety, Operations, Safe Ride Support, Product, and Specialty Transportation teams.

This commitment to both leadership and excellence was further recognized when HopSkipDrive’s Co-founder and CEO Joanna McFarland was named to Inc.’s 2025 Female Founder 500 list, underscoring the company’s innovative approach to scaling supplemental student transportation nationwide. HopSkipDrive was also recently named to the 2025 Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing private companies in America, ranking #667 overall and #17 in the education category. This is HopSkipDrive’s fourth year on the Inc. 5000 list, placing it among the top 13% of fastest-growing private companies nationwide this year.

HopSkipDrive’s technology platform and network of caregivers on wheels helps ensure safe, reliable transportation when traditional solutions fall short, enabling schools to maintain educational continuity and access for every student. As the company prepares for the upcoming academic year, it continues to grow its footprint and introduce new products and features unmatched in the supplemental student transportation industry.

About HopSkipDrive

HopSkipDrive is a technology company that solves complex transportation challenges where there is a heightened need for safety, equity, and care. HopSkipDrive is modernizing the $30 billion school transportation industry through two core solutions: a care-centered transportation marketplace and an industry-leading transportation intelligence platform, RouteWise AI™. HopSkipDrive’s marketplace supplements school buses and existing transportation options by connecting kids to highly vetted caregivers on wheels, such as grandparents, babysitters, and nurses in local communities. RouteWise AI helps schools and districts address critical challenges, including budget cuts, bus driver shortages, and reaching climate goals. HopSkipDrive has supported over 13,500 schools across 17 states, with over 1,280 school districts, government agencies, and nonprofit partners. More than five million rides over 95 million miles have been completed through HopSkipDrive since the company was founded in 2014 by three working mothers.