Excellent
#282 of 1,356 schools in AL
Top 21% in state
Bear Exploration Center
Elementary School · Montgomery County · Montgomery, AL
A Montgomery County elementary school where students score 4 points above what's typical for similar communities.
2525 Churchill Dr, Montgomery, AL 36111
- Math 52% proficient (2022)
- Reading 100% vs AL 87% (2024)
- 17.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Bear Exploration Center score 76% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 72%).
2024 ACAP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. AL average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 16-year record (2009–2024), then recovered 53 points since 2020, reaching 100% in 2024.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 70% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 82% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 30 test records from AL state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
17.5%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where Bear Exploration Center sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 10Car-Dependent
- Transit 19Minimal Transit
- Bike 31Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High2,830/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Montgomery), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$54,613
Median home value
$152,000
Median rent
$1,052/mo
College educated
37.9%
Homeownership
59.3%
Poverty rate
22.4%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 36111; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dannelly Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 5.5 | PK–5 | 0.8 mi | 591 | Compare → |
| Johnson Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 5.5 | PK–5 | 1.5 mi | 360 | Compare → |
| Crump Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 4.6 | PK–5 | 1.8 mi | 544 | Compare → |
| First SchoolPrivate · tuition | Not rated | PK–K | 1.9 mi | 6 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Montgomery County
- Schools in district
- 52
- Rank in district
- #5 of 51
- District spending per student
- $12,977NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 27.6%Census SAIPE · 2024
Bear Exploration Center is listed in Montgomery County; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Bear Exploration Center
Bear Exploration Center is a public elementary school in Montgomery, AL, part of Montgomery County, serving approximately 503 students in grades Kindergarten-5th with a 17.3:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.2 out of 10 and ranks #282 of 1,356 schools in AL. State assessment records show 70% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 82% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Bear Exploration Center
What grades does Bear Exploration Center serve?
Bear Exploration Center serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Bear Exploration Center?
Bear Exploration Center has an enrollment of approximately 503 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Bear Exploration Center?
The student-teacher ratio at Bear Exploration Center is 17.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Bear Exploration Center rank in AL?
Bear Exploration Center ranks #282 of 1,356 schools in AL.
What is Bear Exploration Center's MySchoolScout rating?
Bear Exploration Center has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.2 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Bear Exploration Center?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Bear Exploration Center has 70% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 82% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Bear Exploration Center a charter school?
No, Bear Exploration Center is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Bear Exploration Center a Title I school?
No, Bear Exploration Center is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Bear Exploration Center?
17.5% of students at Bear Exploration Center qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 503
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 17.3:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 29
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Montgomery County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 7.0%
- Phone
- (334) 284-8014
- Area population (ZIP 36111)
- 12,196
- Area average commute
- 18 min
- Area median age
- 38
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2024 ACAP · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 36111; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2022, multi-year average, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24
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