Audubon Zoo doesn’t list a discount for individual teachers. What it does list is a school field trip rate for groups of 20 or more guests: $7.50 per person for Orleans Parish schools and $12.50 for non-Orleans Parish schools. The groups page says prices apply to everyone in your group, so teachers and chaperones pay the same per-person price as the students.
If you’re lining up a class trip to the Zoo, the group reservation is where your savings are, and the sections below walk through it. If you’re a teacher heading in with your own kids, there’s no school ID trick, and the section on visiting on your own covers what the Zoo does list.
How To Get The Audubon Zoo Teacher Discount
There isn’t a teacher ID discount to claim at the ticket window. The school rate comes through a group reservation request, for schools visiting as a field trip with 20+ guests. The page recommends requesting a reservation at least two weeks in advance. A Reservationist reviews your request and contacts you if there are conflicts, capacity issues, or questions, and if it’s approved you receive a Reservation Confirmation within five business days. The page says the confirmation letter must be presented upon arrival on the day of your visit.
Reservation hours are Monday through Friday, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, so plan to make any calls during the school day.
What A School Group Pays
The school group table has two columns, one for the Aquarium & Insectarium and one for the Zoo. In the Zoo column, Orleans Parish schools are $7.50 per person and non-Orleans Parish schools are $12.50. The Aquarium & Insectarium column lists $15.00 and $20.00 for the same two groups, so check that you’re reading the Zoo column before you build a budget. Admission is required for guest ages 2 and up.
A non-refundable deposit is required for all group reservations and must be paid two weeks before the visit to secure the date. At the Zoo, the deposit table lists $150 plus tax for Orleans Parish schools and $250 plus tax for non-Orleans Parish schools. Final group counts are due no later than 72 hours before your visit, and the page says group reservations are non-refundable. Group leaders must collect payment from all participants, including teachers and chaperones, before arrival.
The page also mentions Chevron Field Trip Funds, which may be available to support qualifying school and youth group visits to Audubon Zoo or the Aquarium and Insectarium. It says funding is limited and awarded to groups that meet specific eligibility criteria, and that interested schools should submit a Group Reservation Request to be considered.
What To Know Before You Book
The page says all facilities require one adult chaperone for every ten children, and that chaperones must supervise students at all times. Everyone has to arrive together: latecomers must pay full price and may not be included under the group reservation. Group reservations aren’t available on major holidays.
For the bus, the page says complimentary bus parking is available at the designated bus parking area on Magazine Street or at Audubon Riverview Park. It also says Audubon is cashless, so plan on an electronic payment method for any onsite purchases.
A few things can’t be used for group entry or group rates: Taylor Scholar certificates, Audubon Memberships, SNAP tickets, Orleans Parish Appreciation Days IDs, third-party tickets and discount coupons. If you want something to send ahead of the trip, the page offers free grade-level Digital Learning Kits for elementary students, with activities on Louisiana wildlife, ecosystems and the natural world.
Visiting On Your Own
The groups page says groups of 19 or fewer should purchase their tickets on the regular ticket page. The zoo FAQ lists adult admission as $30 to $40 and child or senior admission as $25 to $35, and children under 2 are free and don’t need a ticket. Seniors (65+) receive a $5 discount off standard Zoo admission.
The FAQ also says verified military service members receive 10% off Audubon Memberships, and it points EBT/SNAP cardholders to the Audubon Community Connect page for access programs for Orleans Parish residents. We read the zoo FAQ, membership, discounts and Community Connect pages, and none of them has a teacher or educator offer.
What We Couldn’t Confirm
We didn’t find a teacher ID discount anywhere in Audubon’s own pages, and we didn’t find a school rate for classes smaller than 20. The groups page also sends mixed signals on memberships. One line says Audubon Memberships may be used for admission unless the Member is participating as an official group chaperone, while the policy section says memberships aren’t applicable with group reservations or group discounts. If you hold a membership, ask the Reservationist which one applies to your class.
Q&A
Does Audubon Zoo give teachers a discount?
Not to individual teachers, as far as we could find. Teachers on a school field trip of 20+ guests pay the same per-person group rate as everyone else in the group.
How much is the school rate at the Zoo?
The table lists $7.50 per person for Orleans Parish schools and $12.50 for non-Orleans Parish schools.
How many people do I need for the school rate?
The page lists school groups as schools visiting as a field trip with 20+ guests. Groups of 19 or fewer are sent to the regular ticket page.
How far ahead should I request a reservation?
The page recommends at least two weeks, and says an approved request receives a Reservation Confirmation within five business days.
How many chaperones do I need?
One adult chaperone for every ten children.
Is there a deposit?
Yes. At the Zoo it’s $150 plus tax for Orleans Parish schools and $250 plus tax for non-Orleans Parish schools, paid two weeks before the visit and non-refundable.
Where does the bus park?
The page lists complimentary bus parking at the designated bus parking area on Magazine Street or at Audubon Riverview Park.
More Information:
The details above come from Audubon Nature Institute’s own pages as they loaded when we checked, and prices and policies change without notice. See more entertainment discounts for teachers.
