Homeschool benefits and savings in Santa Fe
Youth 18 and under ride Santa Fe Trails city buses free, every day from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., instead of paying the $1 adult fare. The free fare is based on age, so your homeschooled child rides free without a school pass; carry ID, since the city says it may be required.
Who qualifies
Is 18 or younger
Youth 18 and under ride free. Riders 19 and older pay adult fares.
Carries ID
The city says ID may be required but does not name the documents it accepts, so bring an ID showing your child's age.
Rides Santa Fe Trails
The free youth fare applies on Santa Fe Trails, the City of Santa Fe's bus service. No school enrollment is required.
What the free fare saves
Santa Fe Trails lists these full fares for riders 19 and older; your child pays none of them.
- One way
- $1.00
- Day pass
- $2.00
- Monthly pass
- $20.00
- Semi-annual pass
- $110.00
- Annual pass
- $200.00
Riders 60 and older pay half fare with a valid ID or Medicare card, and fares paid on the bus need exact change.
How to ride
- Before you ride
Check the schedule
Look up routes on the Santa Fe Trails schedule page or call the RideFinders Call Center.
- At the stop
Board with ID
Your child rides free. Adults with your child pay exact change or show a pass.
- On holidays
Plan around closures
Buses do not run on New Year's Day, Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, or Christmas Day.
What it includes
Included
- Santa Fe Trails rides for youth 18 and under
- Fixed-route and on-demand bus service hours
Not included
- Adult fares for parents riding along
- Service on six major holidays
Who to contact about riding
The RideFinders Call Center answers questions about routes, fares, and schedules every day from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
santafetrails@santafenm.gov 505-955-2001 Transit page
Homeschool rules and statewide help in New Mexico
You must notify the New Mexico Public Education Department within 30 days after establishing the home school, then renew on or before August 1 each subsequent year.
New Mexico sets these rules:
- Subjects: Instruction in New Mexico must include reading, language arts, math, social studies, and science.
- Testing: New Mexico does not require standardized testing for homeschoolers.
- Records: New Mexico requires you to keep disease-immunization records or a waiver. NMPED recommends keeping notices, instructional-hour records, materials, and work portfolios, but does not require those academic records.
- Teachers: The person providing instruction must have at least a high school diploma or its equivalent.
Read the New Mexico homeschooling guide See statewide programs in New Mexico
Questions parents ask
- What ID should my child carry on Santa Fe Trails?
- Something that shows your child's age.
- How much do I pay to ride Santa Fe Trails with my child?
- Adults pay $1 one way or $2 for a day pass.
- Can we connect to the Rail Runner?
- Yes. Connections to and from the Rail Runner Express are free with a transfer or ticket.
- Do buses run on holidays?
- Not on six major holidays: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day.
Turn support into your child’s next lesson
A student fare helps with trips to classes and activities. We handle the learning at home, with lessons built around your child's interests and feedback on their work.
$149/month per child after the trial.
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