Cincinnati Zoo doesn’t list a teacher rate on day tickets, but it does run a free event for teachers, the Ultimate Educator Expo. The event page says the free event is open to adult classroom and homeschool teachers only, and it doesn’t mention where those teachers live.
If you’ve been wondering whether a school ID gets you a cheaper ticket at the gate, the zoo’s own pages point somewhere else. Here’s what the Expo offers, what the discounts page lists instead and what we couldn’t pin down.
How To Get The Cincinnati Zoo Teacher Discount
The Expo is the teacher perk. The event page says the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden and the Greater Cincinnati Environmental Educators are teaming up to make it easy for busy teachers to see what science education resources the tri-state has to offer for their students. It describes an exhibit hall featuring 30+ organizations, breakout sessions, animal encounters, raffle prizes, and refreshments.
The page shows a Purchase Tickets button above the date and doesn’t say how a teacher claims the free entry or what proof to bring. The zoo’s phone number on the page is (513) 281-4700, so call before you plan your afternoon around it.
The one date the page lists has already passed, and it doesn’t post a later one. Check the event page for the next Expo before you make plans.
Who The Expo Is For
The page says the free event is a professional development and teacher planning opportunity and is open to adult classroom and homeschool teachers only. Everyone else is charged admission at the gate and is welcome to enjoy the Zoo until 5pm. It also says that due to the nature of the event, children may not attend, so plan for a day without your own kids in tow.
What The Discounts Page Lists
The discounts page has no teacher or educator wording in our read of it. It lists discounted guest tickets and discounts on education programs as membership perks, and it says first responders and all members of the military receive a 10% discount on all Zoo membership levels. It also says members of the zoos and aquariums it names receive 50% off general admission at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden.
The page adds that discounts must be applied on the date of visit and time of sale and may not be applied retroactively, so ask about any discount before you buy, not after.
Bringing A Class Or A Group
The School Programs page says field trips to the Zoo are available year round every day of the week. It also says financial assistance is available for qualifying schools and groups to help make a trip to the Zoo possible. The same page invites teachers to join the Cincinnati Zoo Teacher Connections Facebook page.
On the group discounts page, the zoo says groups of 15+ qualify for discounted admission and rides. The page doesn’t put a price on that discount, so ask when you register.
Graduate Coursework For Teachers
The Professional Development page describes the Advanced Inquiry Program, an online master’s degree from Miami University and Project Dragonfly in partnership with the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. The page says it was created for working professionals. It’s a degree program rather than a ticket rate.
What We Couldn’t Confirm
We couldn’t find how a teacher claims free entry to the Expo, what proof the zoo wants, or when the next one is. The event page lists one date that has passed and no later one, and it doesn’t say whether the Expo repeats. We also couldn’t find a teacher or school ID rate on the discounts page, and the group page doesn’t say what the discounted group price is.
Q&A
Does Cincinnati Zoo give teachers a discount?
Not on day tickets, as far as the discounts page shows. It runs the free Ultimate Educator Expo for adult classroom and homeschool teachers.
Can I show a school ID for reduced admission?
The discounts page doesn’t list a teacher or school ID rate.
Who can go to the Expo?
Adult classroom and homeschool teachers only. The page says children may not attend.
What if I’m not a teacher?
The page says everyone else is charged admission at the gate and welcome to enjoy the Zoo until 5pm.
Do I need to live in Cincinnati?
The page doesn’t name a residency requirement.
Are there discounts for groups?
The group page says groups of 15+ qualify for discounted admission and rides.
Who do I call with questions?
The event page lists (513) 281-4700.
More Information:
The details above come from Cincinnati Zoo’s own pages as they loaded when we checked, and events and discounts change without notice. See more entertainment discounts for teachers.
