A fund to bring Wake County students to area arts and cultural destinations!

The Wheels on the Bus Fund covers transportation and admission costs for one grade level per school annually at Wake County Title I public elementary schools for field trips to area arts and cultural destinations.

Schools must choose their field trip destination from a list of available options. Field trips must take place during the school day.  Schools may submit only one application per school year.

Applications are now closed!

Updates for the 2024-25 School Year

For next school year, we are offering the following three options:

• 2nd graders may see Carolina Ballet’s Nutcracker on Friday, December 13, 2024 at 12 noon (run time of one hour)
• 3rd graders may visit the North Carolina Museum of Art on a Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday between between October 2024 and April 2025
• 5th graders may see Raleigh Little Theatre’s School House Rock on Wednesday, May 7, 2025 at 12 noon (run time of one hour)

The fund will cover transportation and admission costs for one grade-level field trip.

Why is there no 4th grade option? All WCPSS 4th graders already attend a performance of the North Carolina Symphony, so this funding opportunity makes an arts field trip available to other grade levels.

“Thank you so much for providing our third grade with the Wheels on the Bus award. We value all that the United Arts Council does for WCPSS and for our school. Thank you for providing our students with a valuable learning experience!”

-Kelly F. Wilson,  Assistant Principal, Combs Elementary