Cleveland Metroparks Zoo doesn’t list a discount for individual teachers, but a class booked through its school group program gets a per-person school rate and one free chaperone for every ten students. On the School and Youth Group Visits page, a Cuyahoga County school pays $3.00 per grade K-12 student, and a school outside the county pays $7.50 per person.
If you’re the one holding the permission slips and the bus schedule, that page is the one to read. We went through it line by line, including the one rate that doesn’t say whether it covers you.
How To Get The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Teacher Discount
There’s no teacher ticket to buy, so the way in is a group reservation. The page says to call 216.635.3391 or email 30 days in advance to book a visit, and it asks for the organization or school name, a contact person, your preferred visit date, the number of youth and the number of adults. It says rates depend on the agency making the reservation 30 days ahead of the visit date.
Two details are worth knowing before you promise parents anything. The page says purchase orders aren’t accepted, and that pre-registered bookings are non-refundable and non-transferable. Groups must also arrive on the same day at the same time.
The School Rates
The rates listed for schools are $3.00 per grade K-12 student and $5.00 per college student and/or adult for Cuyahoga County schools, and $7.50 per person for schools outside Cuyahoga County. For schools, youth groups and preschools the page lists one free chaperone for each set of 10 students or youths ages 2-17, and says additional adult admission can be purchased at the rate listed.
A note under the rates says groups within Cuyahoga County and Hinckley Township of Medina County remain eligible for free zoo admission on Mondays, except on Memorial Day, Independence Day if it falls on a Monday, and Labor Day. The minimum group size is 5 students, youth or individuals with a disability plus 1 teacher, adult or staff member.
Who Counts As A School Group
The page defines a school as a public or private school registered with the State Department of Education with a school designation, and says it must have a physical location, meaning a school building. It lists a separate set of eligible groups: pre-schools, day cares, faith-based youth groups, city recreation center summer camps, scout troops, YMCA and YWCA youth camps, homeschool networks, online schools and any other for-profit or non-profit youth group. Youth groups and preschools are listed at $8.00 per person, and the page doesn’t say which line a homeschool network or online school falls under, so ask when you book.
Agencies and large groups that don’t meet one of the eligibility criteria are pointed to the zoo’s Group Ticket program for discounts.
Visiting On Your Own
For a weekend with your own family, the admission rates page lists adults at $23.50, seniors ages 62 and older at $21.50 and juniors ages 2-11 at $19.50, and says you can save $1 by visiting on a weekday, Monday through Friday. On Mondays the zoo is free for residents of Cuyahoga County and Hinckley Township. To confirm residency, guests 18 and older bring a driver’s license or state ID, or a current utility bill with their address along with a photo ID.
The admission rates page has no teacher or educator wording, and neither do the group tickets or guest services pages.
What We Couldn’t Confirm
The $5.00 Cuyahoga County rate is listed for a college student and/or adult, and the page doesn’t say whether the teacher leading the class pays it or counts as one of the free chaperones. Ask the group reservation line which applies to you. We also found no discount for showing a teacher ID on the school page, the admission rates page, the group tickets page or the guest services page.
Q&A
Does Cleveland Metroparks Zoo give teachers a discount?
We couldn’t find one for individual teachers. A school group booking gets the school rate and a free chaperone for every ten students.
What does a school pay?
Cuyahoga County schools are listed at $3.00 per grade K-12 student and $5.00 per college student and/or adult. Non-Cuyahoga County schools are listed at $7.50 per person.
How far ahead do I book?
The page says to call or email 30 days in advance of your visit date.
Are chaperones free?
One chaperone per each set of 10 students or youths ages 2-17 is free. Additional adult admission is at the rate listed.
Can we pay with a purchase order?
No. The page says purchase orders aren’t accepted.
Is there anything free for my class?
The page says groups within Cuyahoga County and Hinckley Township of Medina County remain eligible for free admission on Mondays, with a few holiday exceptions.
More Information:
The details above come from Cleveland Metroparks Zoo’s own pages as they loaded when we checked, and rates change without notice. See more entertainment discounts for teachers.
