CPS Students Grades 7-12 Ride Metro

CPS and Metro are committed to helping CPS 7th to 12th grade students safely get to school on time and back home. All eligible students in grades 7-12, at all schools including Montessori, magnet, neighborhood and districtwide, will automatically be routed on Metro for the upcoming school year if families requested transportation for their student during the enrollment process. 

Students must live within District boundaries and a minimum distance of one mile from their school to be eligible for transportation. Eligible students in kindergarten through sixth grade will be transported by yellow bus, and are not permitted to ride Metro with older siblings. 7-12 grade students are not permitted to ride yellow bus with younger siblings, as approved by the Board of Education.

CPS will provide eligible students with a Metro SmartCard valid for transportation to and from school and District sponsored activities. As we prepare for the new school year, please review the following information to ensure you’re ready to ride the first day. 
 

• Finding your route: Be sure to enter the first day of school or later when trip-planning to see accurate times and schedules. Enter your home address and your school destination in the Transit App or Google Maps, the time you would like to arrive and the date (Aug. 20, 2025 or later). You can also download digital schedules directly from Metro. 

• Using your SmartCard: Each eligible student will receive their SmartCard from their school during either an Open House or the first week of school. Your student SmartCard is valid on weekdays between the hours of 6- 9:30 a.m. and 1- 5:00 p.m.. Students participating in extracurricular activities are granted season-specific passes for extended hours.
  
  SmartCards are color coded to indicate whether students have a direct route, one transfer or an extracurricular pass. If a student didn’t obtain their pass during an Open House, they should let their Metro driver know they are a CPS student to ride for free the first day of school. 
   
  
   
• Free rides for families: Parents and guardians will be able to ride with their students during the first week of school, from Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 to Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025. Families will be permitted to ride to and from school, free of charge, and should let the Metro driver know they are riding with their CPS student. Families may also show or print the below pass to share with their driver.
  Parents Ride Metro Free Pass - English
  Parents Ride Metro Free Pass - Spanish
   
• Staying safe onboard: Metro features several protocols to ensure rider safety including security cameras on all buses. The newest buses feature security monitors so riders can observe their surroundings in real time. All buses are in radio contact with Metro’s control center and can contact supervisors and/or law enforcement if necessary. Metro works with CPD to provide random rides and extra patrols at transit centers. Students are always encouraged to notify the bus operator or sit toward the front of the bus if they’re feeling unsafe. 

For more information about riding Metro, visit cps-k12.org/transportation, https://www.go-metro.com/riding-metro/student-programs/ or call 513-363-RIDE (7433).