By 1808Delaware
Waiting for a school bus comes with familiar questions. Has it already passed? Is traffic slowing it down? How close is it to the stop? Olentangy Schools has introduced a tool intended to provide families with better answers. My Ride K-12 is a free transportation platform offering route details, estimated times, and live bus-arrival information through mobile devices and computers.
The district announced the service on September 10, describing it as an additional way to improve communication with families whose students use Olentangy buses. Read the district announcement.
What Families Can See
After connecting a student to an account, an authorized user can view the student’s bus number, driver information, morning and afternoon stop locations, and estimated pickup and drop-off times. The platform also supplies real-time arrival updates. Those estimates can change because of weather, traffic, construction, and other operating conditions, so the district continues to ask students to reach their assigned stops at least five minutes before the scheduled pickup.
Up to four authorized users can be connected to a student’s transportation account. That could allow parents, guardians, or other approved family members to see the same information without sharing a single account.
My Ride K-12 is available through both the Apple App Store and Google Play. Families who prefer a computer can also use the platform through a Chrome browser. See the district’s complete setup guide.
Setting Up An Account
Families begin by creating an account, confirming their email address, and selecting Olentangy Schools as their district. Connecting a child requires the student’s district identification number and PowerSchool Access ID. Families using district transportation are expected to receive a secure ParentSquare document containing that information and additional instructions.
After the connection is made, parents and guardians should verify the bus number, assigned stop, and scheduled times shown for the student. Additional children can be added to the same account. Families whose students need transportation but do not appear in the system should contact the district’s Transportation Office rather than creating repeated accounts.
One Part Of The Information System
The bus tracker does not replace the district’s regular notification services. School closings, delays, and broader transportation changes will continue to be announced through Olentangy’s existing communication channels. My Ride K-12 is designed for information about an individual student’s daily transportation, including the progress of the assigned bus.
The distinction matters on mornings when weather or another districtwide issue changes the school schedule. Families should continue watching regular Olentangy announcements even after installing the app.
The district also cautions that access to live updates does not change established bus-stop and boarding procedures. Students should still use their assigned stops, arrive early, and follow the district’s transportation safety expectations. Questions about the new platform may be directed to the Olentangy Transportation Office at 740-657-4080 or transportation@olsd.us.
