ORCA Card Information

ORCA Cards

The district is no longer managing ORCA cards for students. Student ORCA cards issued to Seattle Public Schools students in the 2021-22 school year will continue working through 2022-23, even if there is an expiration date printed on the back.

Please register your ORCA card by June 30, 2023.

Due to a state wide measure, youth who are under 19 years old, are able to ride public transportation for free. This means that the district no longer provides cards to SPS students.

Request an ORCA Card

Students who do not have an ORCA card will need to create an ORCA account and request a card on the My ORCA website.

While students wait for their card from Metro, they may simply show their student ID to a Metro operator or Sound Transit Fare Ambassador, or if a student does not have a student ID, they may ride without one and will not be denied ridership.

Replacement ORCA Card

How can I get a replacement if my ORCA card is lost, stolen, or damaged?

For high school students who misplaced their SPS ORCA card and don’t have one for the initial start of school, replacements will be available at each high school on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Once a school runs out of ORCA card replacements, students will be directed to sign up for an ORCA account and request a replacement card from the My ORCA website.

While students wait for their replacement from Metro, they may simply flash their student ID, to a Metro operator or Sound Transit Fare Ambassador, or if a student does not have a student ID, they may ride without one and will not be denied ridership.

Middle School students who are 13 and older, who have misplaced their SPS ORCA card and don’t have one for the initial start of school, will need to sign up for an ORCA account and request a replacement card from 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, and Via to Transit. The ORCA cards may not be used 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 and a second time after you leave 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.