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ORCA Cards and Public Transportation

ORCA Cards

Youth who are under 19 years old ride public transportation for free! For riders 13 and older, using a Youth ORCA card is highly encouraged, but not required. Tapping a Youth ORCA card helps transit agencies understand how to better serve youth riders and to share youth ridership rates with funding providers at the State of Washington.

The district no longer provides Youth ORCA cards to all SPS students, but teachers can request to distribute cards at their school by emailing MetroYouth@kingcounty.gov. Student ORCA cards previously issued to Seattle Public Schools students will continue working, even if there is an expiration date printed on the back. To ensure that your card provides free fare until you turn 19 years old and does not expire sooner, all students should register their card on the My ORCA Website.

Where can I use my ORCA card?

Your ORCA card can be used to take transit on services run by King County Metro, King County Water Taxi, Seattle Streetcar, Sound Transit, Community Transit, Pierce Transit, Kitsap Transit, Everett Transit, Seattle Center Monorail, Metro Flex, and as a passenger on Washington State Ferries. 

  • Bus: Tap the ORCA card against the reader after getting on the bus. Pull the yellow cord before your stop to indicate to the driver you would like to exit.   
  • Light Rail & Streetcar: Tap the ORCA card on the platform before getting on the train. 

ORCA cards cannot be tapped multiple times on a single journey and each rider must tap their own ORCA card. 

Assistance with Metro bus routes and schedules can be found at Metro’s website.

Request or Replace Youth ORCA Cards

Students aged 13 and older can order a free Youth ORCA card on the My ORCA website (the card will automatically be registered when ordered). Students can request a replacement card by signing into their account on My ORCA website. Students who have not signed up for an ORCA account will need to set one up so that they can request a replacement card from the My ORCA website.

Taking the bus or light rail to school

Two people getting on the Metro Bus Route 7.

Everyone 18 and under is free on all transit in the region (bus light rail, ferry, etc.). An Orca card is encouraged, but not required for free fare, except on the Seattle Monorail.

  • OneBusAway: download this app to know when your bus is coming (in real time).
  • Use King County Trip Planner (webpage and app) to plan your bus route.
  • Google Maps can also help find the best option.
  • Metro Flex is available in a few regions of the County. You can use an app or call a number for a Metro Flex van to pick you up and drop you off anywhere in the region – including school!

Sample transit routes and tips:

Ballard High School

The D Line, and 15 stop adjacent to Ballard High School.  

Bus tip! Sometimes it’s quickest to walk, bike, or skate to the bus stop even if it’s more than a few blocks away. For example, a student in East Magnolia could walk to catch the D Line on 15th Ave W. In 8 minutes, the D Line would drop them off at school.

Chief Sealth Intl’ High School

The 22, 60, and the H Line stop within a few blocks of Chief Sealth High School.

Sample route: Students from South Park can take the 60 to get to school in about 30 minutes.

Cleveland High School

The 60 and 107 stop in front of Cleveland High School.

Bus tip! Sometimes it’s quickest to walk, bike, or skate to the bus stop even if it’s more than a few blocks away. For example, a student in the Rainier Beach or Mt Baker neighborhood could walk to catch the light rail to get off at Beacon Hill and take the 60 or 107 to school.

Ingraham High School

The 345, 346, and E Line all stop within a couple blocks of Ingraham High School.

Bus tip! Sometimes it’s quickest to walk, bike, or skate to the bus stop even if it’s more than a few blocks away. For example, a student in the North Beach neighborhood could walk to catch the E line and get dropped off within a block of school.

Garfield High School

The 3, 4, 8, and 48 stop within a couple blocks of Garfield High School.

Lincoln High School

The 44, 62, 31, 32, and E Line all stop within a few blocks of Lincoln High School.

Bus tip! Sometimes it’s quickest to walk, bike, or skate to the bus stop even if it’s more than a few blocks away. For example, a student in North Queen Anne could walk to catch the 62 at the north side of the Fremont Bridge. In 7 minutes, the 62 would drop them off a block from school.   

Nathan Hale High School

The 322, 372, and 65 all stop within a few blocks of Nathan Hale High School.

Rainier Beach, Franklin, and Sugiyama High Schools

The 7, 9, and light rail stop within a few blocks of Rainier Beach High School, Franklin High School, and Alan T. Sugiyama High School.

Roosevelt High School

The 67, 73, 79, 322, 522 and light rail stop within a couple blocks of Roosevelt High School.

Washington Middle School

The 4, 8, 14, and 48 all stop within a block of Washington Middle School.   

Bus tip! Sometimes it’s quickest to walk, bike, or skate to the bus stop even if it’s more than a few blocks away. For example, a student on the west side of Beacon Hill could walk to catch the 8, 14, or 48 at the Mt Baker Transit Center and get dropped off within a block of school.

Youth Transit Education Resources