On June 3, Colonel Michael A. Turner, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, announced the results of the Driver and Vehicle Safety Division’s 2026 annual school bus inspection program.

Missouri’s 2026 school bus inspection results are as follows: School buses rated as “approved” upon initial inspection — 10,239 School buses rated as “defective” upon initial inspection — 849 School buses rated as “out-of-service” upon initial inspection — 283 The Santa Fe R-X school district presented six buses for inspection and all six were approved. Other local schools had buses rated as follows: Carrollton R-VII presented 16 buses, 81.2% approved, 12.5% defective, 6.3% out-of-service; Concordia R-II presented 11 buses, 90.9% approved, 9.1% defective, none out-of-service; Lafayette C-1 presented 11 buses, 100% approved, none defective or out-of-service; Lexington R-V presented 13 buses, 84.6% approved, 15.4% defective, none out-of-service; Lone Jack C-6 presented eight buses, 100% approved, none defective or out-of-service; Malta Bend R-V presented three buses, 100% approved, none defective or out-of-service; Marshall schools presented 30 buses, 83.3% approved, 10% defective, 6.7% out-of-service; Norborne R-VIII presented four buses, 75% approved, 25% defective, none out-of-service; Odessa RVII presented 25 buses, 96% approved, 4% defective, none out-of-service; Sweet Springs R-VII presented eight buses, 100% approved, none defective or out-of-service; Wellington-Napoleon R-IX presented six buses, 100% approved, none defective or out-of-service.

Buses with identified defective components require repair within 10 days. Buses placed out-of-service require correction of the component(s), reinspection, and a return to service by Patrol personnel prior to further usage in transporting passengers.

A total of 287 Missouri school districts earned the Patrol’s Total Fleet Excellence Award for 2026. During the 2025-2026 school year, 6,148 buses in the award-winning fleets are eligible to display the Patrol’s Total Fleet Excellence sticker in the lower corner of the first window on the passenger entry side of the bus.

“Through the unified effort of Missouri State Highway Patrol personnel and pupil transportation professionals statewide, the successful inspection of over 11,000 school buses occurred in accordance with Missouri revised state statutes,” said Colonel Turner. “The annual inspection of school buses is one of many ways the Patrol, Missouri schools, and private pupil transportation companies work together to ensure the safety of children while they travel on school buses”.

Missouri school bus inspection results are a matter of public record. Individual school district results for 2026 are available on the Patrol’s website.

School bus inspection criteria, including Missouri State Highway Patrol out-of-service criteria, are also available on the Patrol’s website at https://apps. mshp.dps.mo.gov/MSHPWeb/PatrolDivisions/ DVSD/ MVI/FormsBrochures.html