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Getting To and From AFS

There are many ways to get your child to AFS every day! Students come to AFS from more than 75 zip codes in neighborhoods around the greater Philadelphia area. The AFS Transportation Office is available to help you figure out the best way for your student to get to and from school.

Questions?

Contact the AFS Transportation Office


Transportation Information:

District School Bus for students residing in the Suburbs

If you reside within 10 miles of Abington Friends School, you are eligible for busing by the district in which you reside. The following school districts provide free bus transportation:

  • Abington
  • Bensalem
  • Centennial
  • Central Bucks
  • Cheltenham
  • Colonial
  • Council Rock
  • Hatboro-Horsham
  • Lower Merion
  • Lower Moreland
  • Neshaminy
  • Springfield (Montgomery County)
  • Upper Dublin
  • Upper Moreland
  • Wissahickon

Lower School students are escorted by teachers to their buses during afternoon dismissal.

Please note that public school busing does not provide a late bus service.

For families who use school district busing, please be aware that most districts provide route information at the very end of the summer. If you have questions, please contact your District transportation office or visit the transportation webpage on your school district’s website.

School Bus and SEPTA Options for students residing in Philadelphia

FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES 1–8

The School District of Philadelphia is not able to provide school bus transportation to and from Abington Friends School for students residing in Philadelphia.

Parents are encouraged to enroll in the School District of Philadelphia’s Parent Flat Rate Program to manage the costs of transportation. Through this program run by the City of Philadelphia, parents can be reimbursed for up to $300.00 per month related to the cost of transporting students to school, such as gas or alternative modes of transportation.

Parents can enroll in the program for the 2023-24 school year by submitting an enrollment form on the Parent Flat Rate Program webpage.

FOR UPPER SCHOOL STUDENTS

Upper School students who live in the city of Philadelphia can use public transportation, such as regional rail or SEPTA Buses to travel to and from school. Students in grades 9–12 can pick up a free SEPTA Student Fare Card from the Upper School Office.

The 55 and 77 buses both stop at the intersection of Old York Road and Washington Lane, one block from AFS.

Regional Rail and the Free Jenkintown Train Station Shuttle

AFS is conveniently located near the Jenkintown Train Station, which is serviced by multiple SEPTA Regional Rail lines. AFS provides a complimentary shuttle bus to and from the Jenkintown station. This shuttle:

  • Departs from the Jenkintown Train Station at 7:50 a.m.
  • Departs AFS at 3:20 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.

This shuttle is intended for students, faculty and staff who choose to commute by rail. The morning pick up time is coordinated with the train schedule so that everyone arrives on campus as close to 8:00 a.m. as possible. The pick-up time is around 7:50 a.m. and the bus will return for an additional pick-up as needed until 8:15 a.m.

The afternoon train shuttle departs AFS at 3:20 p.m. and arrives at the station just before 3:30 p.m.

The late shuttles depart AFS at 5:30 p.m.

The SEPTA regional rail trains that make a stop at Jenkintown are the Airport Line, West Trenton Line, Warminster Line, Glenside Combined Line and the Lansdale/Doylestown Line. Schedules can be found on SEPTA’s website.

Students who receive a SEPTA Student Fare Card can upgrade it to a rail pass for a fee.

The AFS “Northwester" Bus, Serving Northwest Philadelphia

The Route

In the morning, the route begins at the Chestnut Hill West Train Station at 6:55 a.m., then proceeds down Germantown Ave. The bus will then turn right on Allens Lane then left onto Wissahickon Ave. where it will stop at Johnson St. and Wissahickon Ave. at 7:20 a.m. From there it will travel north on Washington Lane, making a stop at the Jenkintown Train Station near 7:47 a.m. before arriving at AFS. The bus will then be on call in the event of a late train.

The afternoon route will depart AFS promptly at 3:25 p.m. After stopping at the Jenkintown Train Station it proceeds to the Chestnut Hill West Train Station where it will follow the route as it would in the morning. The exact afternoon drop-off times could change slightly based on actual ridership.

Note: We can create a stop at any point on or near the established route that may be more convenient for you.

Late Bus

The bus departs from Upper School at 5:30 p.m. on Mondays to Thursdays and goes to the Chestnut Hill West Train Station and then continues through its usual route. Drop off times and the actual route will vary depending on who is riding on any given evening. Late bus service is included at no extra charge for round-trip riders and is available as a stand-alone service per activity season.

Please contact the AFS Transportation Office for more information.

NW route map