Transportation

Zip Codes within a 10-Mile Radius of Friends' Central School

School districts provide school bus transportation to Friends’ Central School campuses. Each School District is unique, and their websites provide details regarding getting signed up. If you have questions about your route, or eligibility, please contact the district directly.

FCS notifies school districts of eligible FCS students annually by the end of June and as required during the academic year.

• If you intend on using School District transportation in September of the following academic year, please select the Register for Transportation Services button on this page by mid-June so we can alert your school district of your intentions. 
• School districts will contact families directly to process requests for busing. Families should receive route information annually no later than the last week of August.
• Please note that Lower Merion School District sends route information to FCS for distribution via email.

Please see below for information about Philadelphia Public School District busing.

If you have any questions about Public School busing, please contact JB Bowie, FCS Transportation Manager at jbbowie@friendscentral.org.

The School District of Philadelphia (SDoP) provides a hybrid transportation service which includes buses and SEPTA Student Fare Cards.

• Bus service is offered to students in grades 1-8.  Middle School students can choose between bus transportation or SEPTA Student Fare Cards.
• The only form of transportation for SDoP students grades 9 through 12 is SEPTA Student Fare Cards.   
• SEPTA Student Fare Cards are bus passes. Rail passes can also be loaded on the issued card by stopping  a designated ticket counter and paying the SDoP negotiated fee of approximately $1 per trip.
• Students eligible for SDoP Student Fare Cards can pick them up and sign for them in the Upper School and Middle School Administrative Offices.
• Directions and FAQs for Student Fare Cards can be found on this SDoP web page. 
• See "Friends' Central Busing" below for details about the FCS shuttle to Overbrook Station and 63rd and Malvern Bus Depot.
• If you intend on using School District transportation in September of the following academic year, please select the Register for Transportation Services button on this page by mid-June so we can alert the school district of your intentions. 
• SDoP will contact families directly to process requests for busing. Families should receive route information annually no later than the last week of August.

If you have any questions about Public School busing, please contact JB Bowie, FCS Transportation Manager at jbbowie@friendscentral.org.

Overbrook Shuttle: Friends’ Central sponsors a shuttle to the Overbrook Station and 63rd and Malvern Bus Depot. This shuttle runs a continuous loop in the morning, starting at 7:45 am until 8:15 am. In the afternoon, the bus does two single runs departing at 3:20 pm and 5:40 pm. There is no fee for this service. Note: In the morning, a bus will be available for dispatch to meet the SEPTA R5 8:39 am arrival. Please call 610.247.3520 as soon as you are aware you will need this service.

Inter-Campus Shuttle: Friends' Central sponsors an Inter-Campus shuttle between the City Avenue and Lower School campuses in the morning and afternoon. There is no fee for this service.

• Morning: the City Ave campus to Lower School campus shuttle departs at 8:05 am
• Morning: the Lower School campus to City Ave campus shuttle departs at 7:55 am
• Afternoon: the Lower School campus to City Ave campus shuttle departs when loaded (approximately 3 pm).  The commute takes 15 to 20 minutes of travel time depending on traffic.
• Afternoon: The City Ave campus to Lower School campus shuttle departs at 3:20 pm.  The commute takes 15 to 20 minutes of travel time depending on traffic.

Route Busing: FCS has partnered with PhillyTrans Bus Company to provide free Route Busing for School District of Philadelphia students in Nursery through 8th grade within the following geographic areas below. There is no fee for this service. 

• West Philadelphia 
• Center City, bordered by 2nd St/Christian St/22nd St and Fairmount 

We are pleased to let you know that Friends’ Central School has implemented a GPS system on City Route buses. This system allows parents to see the location of their bus. The App is accessible from any internet-enabled device (smartphone, tablet, PC).

To sign up, go to www.WheresTheBus.Com, and choose Friends’ Central School from the drop-down menu, and enter the requested information. Please enter your student’s Bus # and a Pick-up time of 7AM for morning and Drop-Off time of 2PM for afternoon. Enter “FCS Lower School or FCS Middle School” for School Building. If there are two students in the family, it is only necessary to enter one.

You will be provided your student's bus number as part of a route information package delivered by your student's bus driver. We are excited to be able to offer what we hope will be a significant help to Friends’ Central families.

For more information or if you have questions about Friends' Central busing, please email JB Bowie, Director of Transportation, at jbbowie@friendscentral.org.

Friends' Central's City Avenue campus is conveniently located within a short commuting distance of both the SEPTA Overbrook Train Station (with service from Paoli-Thorndale through Philadelphia), and SEPTA's 63rd and Malvern Bus Depot (one block from Overbrook Train Station). There is a regular, no-fee shuttle service that runs a continuous loop in the morning, starting at 7:45 am and running until 8:45 am. In the afternoon, the bus departs at 3:20 pm and 5:40 pm.

Upper School students of legal age with a valid driver's license may choose to drive to Friends' Central. There is limited on-campus parking. Seniors (and Juniors after Spring Break) can apply for on-campus parking permit for a fee.

After registering and submitting payment online here, students must contact David Sexton to pick up their pass before parking on campus. On-campus parking passes are $65 each for the full school year.

• The number of students riding on FCS buses may be limited to maintain distancing. Friends’ Central students will be expected to wear masks at all times on buses. 

• Students and parents/guardians/caregivers will be required to perform a symptom screening (Ruvna) prior to arriving at school each day. 

• When carpooling, if students are not in the same household or class, masks must be  worn while in the car. FCS bus drivers and passengers will wear face masks while on the bus in accordance with the  PA Secretary of Health's Order Requiring Universal Face Coverings issued July 1, 2020. 

• Individuals other than students/drivers, including parents, guardians, or other caregivers, will  not be permitted on the bus unless absolutely necessary (e.g. to assist a student with a disability). They must wear a mask to enter the bus. Windows will remain open, if weather allows, to improve ventilation. Buses will be disinfected after each run and will be cleaned and disinfected daily. Hand sanitizer will be provided on the bus and its use will be promoted.