private school transportation at SCH Academy

The following public school districts will bus students who are in grades K-12 and live within a 10-mile radius of SCH: Abington, Cheltenham, Colonial, Hatboro-Horsham, Haverford, Lower Merion, Lower Moreland, Norristown Area, Radnor, Springfield (Montco), Upper Dublin, Upper Merion, Upper Moreland, Wissahickon.

If you live in Philadelphia, eligibility is based on mileage, grade level of student, and location. Bus transportation is typically provided for students in 1st through 6th grade who live 1.5 to 10 miles from SCH. Students in 7th through 12th grade who live 1.5 to 10 miles from SCH are eligible for free Student Fare Card for multiple bus, subway, or trolley lines (not valid for SEPTA Regional Rail, although they may be exchanged for a discounted weekday train pass). Additionally, if you live in select, downtown sections of Philadelphia, see our City SCHuttle option for downtown transit opportunities. 

Located on Willow Grove Avenue in Chestnut Hill, SCH is within walking distance for older students who choose to take SEPTA buses or trains to and from school. Monthly SEPTA Student Fare Cards are available to those who qualify and can be used on both the train and bus. 

• Bus: The Germantown & Willow Grove Avenues stop is about a 10-12 minute walk to/from campus.
• Train: Chestnut Hill West Line (CHW) on SEPTA regional rail—serving Mt. Airy, Germantown, and Center City—with a stop at St. Martins Station is about a 5-8 minute/one block walk to/from campus. 

SCH parents enjoy access to a dynamic online student/parent directory that enables them to identify other SCH families in their neighborhood for the purpose of carpooling. Once enrollment is complete, we'd be happy to show you how to find your neighbors in mySCH, our parent/student portal. 

Transportation will be provided by Kid Ridez, a safe, honest, and reliable driving service with multiple safety protocols to give families peace of mind—real-time tracking, phone notifications, certified drivers, and more. They will run pick-up and drop-off from five hubstops in Center City, Philadelphia. Hubstops will be customized once we learn the addresses of those families interested in the service and designed to service the greatest number of families possible while attempting to mitigate en-route ride time.

Fast Facts about the SCHuttle:

• Hubstops: SCH is pleased to offer families a SCHuttle option with five different "Hubstops", located in various Center City neighborhoods in grades Pre-K to 12th. The specific Hubstops for the school year will be determined based on the addresses of enrolled SCHuttle families to ensure the Hubstops are as convenient as possible for all riders and families. 
• Times: SCHuttle arrives at SCH daily by 7:50 AM | Departs SCH daily at 4:45 PM; one-way options are now available.
• SCHuttle Home Base: The SCHuttle will arrive and depart from SCH’s main Cherokee Parking Lot (drop-offs or pick-ups will not be honored at any other campus location).
• Round-trip or One-way: Families may select multi-travel options. One-way fare is 50% off the round-trip fee.
• Free Care for Afternoon Riders: Lower School and Middle School students not engaged in after-school activities will be provided a monitored and engaging space from dismissal time until SCHuttle's departure at 4:30 PM.
• Incentive for SCHuttle Families: The Philadelphia School District offers enrollment in the “Flat Rate Program,” which reimburses parents up to $300 a month for providing their own transportation. Your participation in the SCHuttle renders you eligible to enroll in this program if your students are entering grades 1-6 ONLY. To enroll, select the Flat Rate option in this Public School District Bus Transportation Request Form.

• Deadlines: SCHuttle enrollment is first come, first served, with priority given to round-trip riders and Lower School, Pre-K, and Kindergarten students. One-way requests will be assigned after June 1, as space allows; agreements are time-stamped, so families should submit them as soon as possible. Late enrollments will be accepted only if space is available. Estimated hubstop locations and route times will be shared with families around July 30.

SCHuttle Info

Shuttlebee is a long-standing SCH partner, providing safe, reliable, family-friendly transportation for students in Philadelphia and nearby suburbs not served by the Center City SCHuttle. Shuttlebee works with licensed, vetted transportation providers who specialize in student transportation; all partners meet or exceed state requirements for safety, insurance, training, and vehicle compliance, and every vehicle is equipped with GPS tracking.