Transportation Options

  • NTPS School Bus

    All students must register to ride a school bus:

    Reserve your seat!

    Intercity Transit

    Our community bus system, Intercity Transit, has excellent coverage in the county.

    Rideshare

    Ride or drive with someone! Visit the Rideshare website to see if there are any ridesharers going to your school!

    Walking

    If you live within the walk zone, you can walk to school! Great exercise, and if you pack an umbrella, you'll stay dry!

Meadows Walk Zone Embedded Google Map

NTPS uses SMART tag on all buses

  • NTPS uses SMART tag. Students scan off and on the bus daily to help us keep track of bus riders!

    Lost tag? Contact your school office as soon as possible to obtain a replacement tag.

    What do parents need to do? Make sure your student has their badge with them when they ride the bus. Activate your SMART tag parent account to access text & email notification settings and see your student's riding log.

    North Thurston Public Schools & Smart Tag Logo on a black background How does it work? Students are issued an identification card they wave past a card reader to log on and off the bus. Office staff can monitor ridership instantly. This tool helps keep track of all our riders, making sure everyone is on the right bus and using the correct stop. We take the transportation of our students seriously and believe the safety features of this product greatly enhance the safety and security of our student body. NTPS is the first SMART tag-enabled school district in Washington.

Smart Tag Frequently Asked Questions

  • Reminder: Transportation Services inactive after 20 days of no use

  • How does the SMART tag Parent Portal work? Are there phone notifications?

  • Who should I contact about a lost badge?

  • Can a student get off at a different stop or use a different bus?

  • Can I see when my child gets on/off the bus?

  • Do these badges track student location?

  • How will multiple and/or alternating destinations work?

  • Is an ID badge required to ride the bus?

  • Is student information stored in the ID Badge?

  • What does the bus driver see when the card is swiped?

  • What if my student doesn't ride the bus?

  • What if my student forgets their badge?

  • What is the procedure for a student without an ID Badge?

  • Will students receive a badge every year?

  • Will this system notify me of bad weather closures, accidents, or other emergencies?