Case Study

Baltimore City Public Schools Transportation

Created the district's first transportation analytics system, securing $400K+ in annual state funding through improved compliance and optimization.

Client
Baltimore City Public Schools
Role
Transportation Data Analyst
Timeline
2012 – 2014
Type
Data Analytics
$400K+
Annual Funding Secured
25,000+
Students Optimized
47 → 7
Bell Schedules

The Challenge

Baltimore City Public Schools transported 25,000+ students daily across the district, but lacked any analytics infrastructure to measure performance, optimize routes, or demonstrate compliance to state funding authorities.

The transportation department operated with 47 different bell schedules, creating inefficiencies in bus routing and driver utilization. Without data-driven insights, the district was leaving state funding on the table.

Key Challenges

  • No analytics infrastructure for transportation operations
  • 47 different bell schedules creating inefficiencies
  • Manual routing without optimization
  • Missing state funding due to compliance gaps
  • No visibility into on-time performance
  • 25,000+ students requiring reliable transportation

The Solution

As Transportation Data Analyst, I created the district's first comprehensive analytics system for transportation operations, enabling data-driven decision making and improved compliance.

Transportation Analytics System

  • Built the district's first transportation analytics platform
  • Created KPI dashboards for leadership visibility
  • Developed compliance reporting for state funding requirements
  • Implemented performance tracking and on-time arrival metrics

Bell Schedule Optimization

  • Consolidated 47 bell schedules into 7 district-wide shifts
  • Optimized bus routing for efficiency
  • Improved driver utilization across routes
  • Reduced operational complexity significantly

State Funding Compliance

  • Data modeling for performance audits
  • Compliance documentation and reporting
  • Demonstrated improvement to state funding authorities
  • Secured additional annual recurring funding

The Results

Financial Impact

  • $400K+ in additional annual state funding secured
  • Recurring annual funding through demonstrated compliance
  • ROI proven through measurable funding increases

Operational Improvements

  • Bell schedules reduced from 47 to 7 (85% reduction)
  • Improved on-time arrival for 25,000+ students
  • Better driver utilization and route efficiency
  • Leadership visibility through real-time dashboards

Infrastructure Created

  • First transportation analytics system for the district
  • KPI framework for ongoing performance measurement
  • Compliance reporting infrastructure
  • Data-driven decision making capability

Key Takeaways

Data Unlocks Funding

Analytics and compliance reporting directly translated to $400K+ in annual state funding that was previously inaccessible.

Simplification Scales

Consolidating 47 schedules to 7 dramatically reduced complexity while improving efficiency.

KPIs Drive Accountability

Real-time dashboards gave leadership visibility into operations for the first time.

Quick Wins Matter

Early funding wins built credibility for larger transformation initiatives.

Related Project: Enrollment Analytics

In a related role at BCPS, directed enrollment analytics for the FARMs program.

FARMs Program Analytics

Directed enrollment analytics for the Free and Reduced-price Meals (FARMs) program, securing $350M+ in Maryland state funding annually through outreach and compliance oversight.

$350M+
Annual State Funding
District-wide
Compliance Oversight

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