Student Transportation

We know you are busy and that's why we make getting to Woodward as convenient as possible. Our top-safety rated buses are equipped with state-of-the art amenities including air conditioning, WiFi, USB ports, reading lights, and a student tracking system that lets parents see in real-time when their child gets on and off the bus. (See our Bus Schedules below to find your nearest stop.) Because we are sensitive to the needs and schedules of our families, our buses even leave early on Fridays to get our students home promptly! Woodward security officers accompany 350+ students on MARTA every day, and other families join our Carpool-to-School service. Learn more details below.

FAQ

Does Woodward sell Marta Cards? How can I order them?

Yes, the Campus Store sells discounted MARTA cards for our students. Parents of Lower and Primary School children can have them delivered to the front office in each school.  Please allow a day or two for delivery.

What does Woodward do to Assist with Student Safety on Marta?

You can read more about our efforts to assist with student safety and comfort on our Student Transport pages.

My child left an item on the bus. Whom should I contact?

If your student loses an item on the bus, please contact Student Transport at arrive@woodward.edu or 404-765-4520. Please provide a description of what was lost and when.

When do you notify parents that a bus will be late?

If a bus is estimated to arrive at a stop 10 minutes or more past the posted arrival time, Student Transport makes every attempt to send a text alert to parents who are registered for that bus route and the affected stop.

Who do I contact with an urgent bus issue?

Please contact Student Transport Dispatch at arrive@woodward.edu or 404-765-4520.

What do I do if my child misses the bus?

Buses cannot be redirected in the morning for students who arrive after departure. If a student misses the afternoon bus, they may ride the late bus at 6:10 p.m. Students who miss the 6:10 p.m. bus will be instructed to call their parents to make other transportation arrangements.

What happens if I am running behind schedule and will be late getting to the bus stop?

Please contact Student Transport Dispatch at 404-765-4520 at your earliest convenience. Some of our routes have multiple stops and it is important that we transport all students home in a timely manner. To avoid extensive delays with other families, your child’s bus may have to continue with the route, and then circle back to your stop. The Dispatch operator will be able to inform you with a specific plan.

Once my child is registered, can my child ride any Woodward bus if needed?

Yes, we understand that a student may spend time between multiple households or travel to different locations. There is no fee for changing buses as long as your child is registered for at least one route*. (*Please note that the Campus Connect Shuttle is not included. Students who register for Campus Connect will not be permitted to ride other buses without paying a fee.) We recommend you email arrive@woodward.edu to advise Student Transport of any changes.

Can my child ride the bus if they are not registered?

Yes, students may ride a Woodward bus if needed, with no advance notice. They need only to swipe their ID card for tracking and billing purposes. If there is a large group of students riding together, we recommend you let Student Transport know with an email to arrive@woodward.edu.

How can I ensure I am getting text alerts and emails from Student Transport?

Please update your school records with your current email address and cell phone number. You may do this at any time in the Parent Portal.

Who can assist me with setting up student and GPS tracking for the bus?

Please contact our Transportation Concierge at arrive@woodward.edu or 404-765-4530.

Can my student wait inside a designated store or location for me after the bus arrives at the stop?

We only allow our Middle and Upper School students to wait at a designated store meeting point. A signed Permission Form is required before students are released in this manner. Younger siblings may be released to wait with their Middle or Upper School siblings. Younger siblings cannot be released if the Middle or Upper School student is not present.

Who can help me review transportation options and details about bus registration?

Please contact our Koury Parks, our Transportation Concierge, at arrive@woodward.edu or 404-765-4530.

What time should I arrive to my child’s bus stop?

We ask that you arrive at the bus stop at least 5 minutes prior to the posted departure / arrival time of your route.

A Woodward shuttle bus between Main Campus and the College Park MARTA station (one mile from campus) is provided in the morning and afternoon on all school days. This shuttle service is provided by Woodward's Student Transportation department. Parents may also track when students board and exit the Woodward shuttle for MARTA using the SafeStop app, instructions can be found in the Bus section.  Please note we do not offer GPS tracking for the MARTA shuttles.

Marta Shuttle Times

Morning: 7:40 to 8:30 a.m. | Afternoon (mon-thurs): 3:50, 5:30, 6:10 p.m. | Afternoon (friday): 3:30, 5:30, 6:10 p.m.

Station Departure Times

The estimated trip time to College Park from the northernmost stations (North Springs and Doraville) and easternmost/westernmost stations (Indian Creek and Hamilton Homes) is about 40 minutes. Travel time from Midtown is about 20 minutes. Trains depart every eight minutes from those stations. Trains depart every four minutes from stations located south of Arts Center and Five Points.

MARTA See & Say app

All MARTA riders are encouraged to download the MARTA See & Say app, a free smartphone application that allows users to report suspicious activity directly to MARTA's police.

Safety, Security & Procedures

  • All evidence indicates that travel by MARTA to and from Woodward is as safe as, if not safer than, vehicular travel.
  • Parents may also track when students board and exit the Woodward shuttle for MARTA using the SafeStop app, instructions can be found in the Bus section.  Please note we do not offer GPS tracking for the MARTA shuttles.
  • Woodward provides all students with a card with emergency MARTA numbers, Woodward security, and the text number for the MARTA See & Say app.
  • All riders are encouraged to download the MARTA See & Say app, a free smartphone application that allows users to report suspicious activity directly to MARTA's police.
  • Please note that MARTA is public transportation and not under the administration of Woodward Academy. Patronage is at your discretion.
MORNING PROCEDURES
  • Upon arrival at the College Park MARTA station, a designated Student Transport Supervisor greets students and ensures that they go directly to the Woodward shuttles.
  • The Woodward shuttle drops PS students at the PS shuttle.  The US and MS students are dropped off at the US Dining Hall and LS students are unloaded at the LS bus lane.
AFTERNOON PROCEDURES
  • A dedicated Woodward security officer oversees all four afternoon MARTA shuttles by accompanying students through the station and on the platform until train departs.
  • MARTA Officers direct students to load in the last two to three cars on the train.  Students are expected to stay together.
  • Due to the large volume of Woodward students who take the 3:50 p.m. shuttle, uniformed MARTA Police Officers greet the students at the College Park MARTA station and ride with them to the North Springs, Doraville, and Indian Creek stations . We also have WA Staff members that accompany the students to the North Springs & Doraville stations.
  • For the 5:30 p.m. and 6:10 p.m. shuttles, uniformed MARTA Police Officers greet the students at the College Park MARTA station and ride with them to either North Springs or Doraville stations.
  • If a student ever misses the shuttle, the student is informed to call Woodward Academy Security at 404-557-7790 to arrange a ride to or from the College Park MARTA Station.

Transferring Trains

No transfer is necessary while traveling on the North-South lines. College Park is the next-to-last stop before the airport.

Students using the East-West line will have to transfer at Five Points. We recommend that parents take one or more practice runs with their students to become familiar with the logistics of the transfer.

Students returning on the north line will need to be sure to take the appropriate train as the northern route splits after Lindbergh Station into Doraville and North Springs lines. Students returning on the eastern line will need to make sure their train continues to the end of the line.

Breeze Cards

  • 10-ride MARTA student Breeze card = $21 
  • Student Breeze cards are available for purchase in the Campus Store
  • Breeze cards are valid for 90 days, and the date encoded on the back of the card is the date the card expires.

Age of Riders

The judgment as to when a student is ready to ride MARTA as a transportation option is left to the parents. In an average year, riders include 150 Upper School and Middle School students, 50 Lower School students, and 10 Primary School students. Woodward recommends that Primary and Lower School students be accompanied by a Middle or Upper School sibling.

Contact Information

MARTA Police Dispatch - 404.848.4911
MARTA Precinct - 404.848.3641
Woodward Security (cell) - 404.557.7790
Woodward Security (office) - 404.765.4500
Student Transport Bus Shuttle - 404.765.4520

FAQ

Is there a fee for the MARTA shuttle?

No, there is no fee for the MARTA shuttle from the College Park MARTA station to campus. Students will be asked to swipe their student ID when boarding the bus for tracking purposes.

Does Woodward sell MARTA cards? How can I order them?

Yes, the Campus Store sells discounted MARTA cards for our students. Parents of Lower and Primary School children can have them delivered to the front office in each school.  Please allow a day or two for delivery.

What does Woodward do to assist with student safety on MARTA?

You can read more about our efforts to assist with student safety and comfort on our Student Transport pages.

Because our families arrive at Woodward from more than 100 zips and 23 counties, we know the ability to carpool is of high value to you. For your convenience, Woodward Academy offers a carpool service that will allow you to find other families in your home area who would like to carpool to campus or to the nearest MARTA station.

Please visit Carpool to School today to join this service, where you will have access to instructional videos and a chat window for assistance. In addition, you may email the Woodward IT Department at login@woodward.edu or call our IT Department at 404.765.4130 for assistance.

We hope our family carpool service will make the school commute easier and more enjoyable for your family. Carpooling not only saves time and expense but also offers students and their families an opportunity to make new friends within our Woodward community.

Carpool to School

Carpool to School is Woodward Academy's carpool service that will allow you to find other families in your home area who would like to carpool to campus or to the nearest MARTA station.

If you don’t have a Carpool to School account, please register here. 

Contact Information

Emergency contact for bus riders: Bus Dispatch - 404.765.4520 or arrive@woodward.edu

Help with routes, bus procedures, registration, or payments: Transportation Concierge at 404.765.4530 or arrive@woodward.edu.