Bear Exploration Center

www.mps.k12.al.us/o/bear

507 Students

Elementary School K - 5th

School Overview

The Bear Exploration Center, located in Montgomery, Alabama, is a specialized magnet school within the Montgomery Public Schools system that focuses on providing an enriched, hands-on educational experience for students in grades K–5. The school is distinct for its inquiry-based curriculum, which emphasizes science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) through immersive, project-based learning. By integrating exploration-based activities into daily instruction, the center aims to foster critical thinking, curiosity, and a deep engagement with the natural and scientific world.

Beyond its academic focus, the Bear Exploration Center is known for maintaining a unique school culture that prioritizes experiential learning and active discovery. The facility is designed to support this specialized mission, often utilizing its resources to provide students with opportunities that go beyond traditional classroom settings. As a school of choice, it serves as a destination for families seeking a rigorous yet creative environment that prepares elementary-aged children for future success in academic fields related to discovery and innovation.

507

Total Students

27.0

Full-Time Teachers

18.8

Student/Teacher Ratio

37.3%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Bear Exploration Center
Demographic	Student Count
White	114
Hispanic	26
Black	327
Asian	17
Two or More	23

Black
327 (64.5%)
White
114 (22.5%)
Hispanic
26 (5.1%)
Two or More
23 (4.5%)
Asian
17 (3.4%)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Montgomery County
Phone:	(334)284-8014
Website:	http://www.mps.k12.al.us/o/bear
Grade Range:	K - 5th
Total Students:	507
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	27.0
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	18.8
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	189
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	0

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Kindergarten 80

Grade 1 80

Grade 2 87

Grade 3 85

Grade 4 87

Grade 5 88

Grades Taught Data Table

Grades Taught and Student Counts for Bear Exploration Center
Grade	Student Count
Kindergarten	80
Grade 1	80
Grade 2	87
Grade 3	85
Grade 4	87
Grade 5	88

Gender Ratio

Student Gender Ratio Data Table

Student Gender Ratio for Bear Exploration Center
Gender	Student Count	Percentage
Female	257	50.7%
Male	250	49.3%

Nearby Elementary Schools (Within 10 Miles)