DOGWOOD, Mo. -- Thousands of students take buses to school every morning. Some have to get on their buses long before daylight. For elementary-aged kids, that’s extremely early. At least one parent in the Ava School District isn't happy about it.

While the moon is still out, and the crickets are still chirping, 7-year-old Brendon King is headed for the bus stop on Wednesday. But, at least he isn't alone. There are three others just like him.

"It takes a toll on him,” said Jonnie King, Brendon’s mother.

Brendon gets on the bus at 6:15. It’s an 18-mile drive from the Kings’ home in northeast Douglas County to school in Ava. For a vehicle that doesn’t make any stops, it’s a 30-minute drive over windy Missouri 14. Brendon’s bus, however, doesn’t arrive until 8:00. It takes nearly two hours for him and others in his neck of the woods to get to school.

“Obviously, it's not ideal. We do not want that situation to occur but we also try to explain the distance from the district, our vast area,” said School Superintendent Andy Underwood.

The Ava district covers 383 square miles. The buses pick up and drop off students in four counties.

Perhaps even worse than getting on the bus before dawn is getting off at dusk, nearly two hours after school lets out.

"Normally, he gets home about 5 or 5:15,” said King.

"We send three to four buses in every direction from the school district here. When you have to travel 20 to 25 miles, in some instances even farther in a one-way stretch without stopping, it creates that time constraint,” said Underwood.

The rides make second-grader Brendon’s school day longer than most adults workday.

"I know I work eight hours. I'm gone for 10. He's gone longer in the day than I am,” said King.

The superintendent says it's not like the buses are jam-packed and the district is trying to squeeze everyone in. That is not the case. However, there doesn't seem to be any easy solution. It looks like the kids in rural areas will have to continue going to bed really early.