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.
Lower School families will need to fill out the Lower School Dismissal Instruction Form no later than August 15. This form can be found on the Forms page in the Transportation section. Please note that Lower School students are escorted by teachers to their buses during afternoon dismissal.
In Middle School, teachers help 5th and 6th graders navigate after-school busing for the first few weeks of school. Teachers and staff in each division are always available after school to help any student who has an issue with transportation home.
We encourage all families who rely on district busing or public transportation to have a back-up plan in place for the first few days of school as your child acclimates.
Questions? Contact the AFS Transportation Office:
Chris Santaniello, Transportation Director
215-576-3981
If you use public school busing, please note that your child’s transportation will be impacted by early dismissals and closings for inclement weather and emergencies. Please make a note of your school district’s snow-closing number, which can be found on your school district’s website.
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. Students who stay late at school for sports practice, theater rehearsal or other activities get home by car, by train and the AFS Jenkintown SEPTA station shuttle, or by using the AFS transportation 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 the AFS transportation office.
School Bus and SEPTA Options for students residing in Philadelphia
For Students in Grades 1 through 8
The School District of Philadelphia provides busing for students in grades 1-8. Please note that public school busing does not provide a late bus service. Students who stay late at school for sports practice, theater rehearsal or other activities get home by car, by train and the Jenkintown SEPTA station shuttle or using the AFS transportation service.
Parents who choose not to use the Philadelphia school bus because of excessively long travel times or unacceptable service may be eligible for mileage reimbursement from the city. Please contact the AFS Transportation Department for more information.
For Students in Grades 9 through 12
Students in grades 9-12 are given a free weekly SEPTA bus pass each week from their advisor during Morning Assembly.
A student’s weekly SEPTA transpass can be upgraded to a rail pass for $9.90. This can be done at the ticket offices of Suburban Station, 30th Street Station and many others as listed on SEPTA’s website.
SEPTA Bus Lines Serving AFS:
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., 5:05 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 a second pick-up if needed.
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 5:05 p.m. and 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 transpass can upgrade it to a rail pass for a fee.
The AFS “Northwester" Bus, Serving Northwest Philadelphia
We provide an in-house school bus option to families coming from Northwest Philadelphia. The majority of the fee for this service is heavily subsidized by AFS so that it is a viable option for as many of our students as possible. This bus follows a set route and is not a door-to-door service. Stops include: Chestnut Hill West station, Trolley Car Diner, portions of Allens Lane and Wissahickon Avenue, and all of Washington Lane.
The Northwester Bus also makes a late run on Monday–Thursday at no extra charge. This late bus can be signed up for separately per athletic season.
Stops can be created at any point along the route. The route may vary slightly from year to year as adjustments are made to accommodate ridership.
Please contact the AFS Transportation Office for more information, or visit the Forms section of the website for the Northwester bus route flyer and registration form.
Door-to-Door Van Service
AFS has a door-to-door van service available for children in grades K-12. Although we make every effort to accommodate each request for van service, it is only available if there are enough families in a given area to develop an economical route. Rates vary based on distance from AFS.
For more information, please contact the AFS Transportation Office or visit the Forms section of the website for the Van service flyer and registration form.