Macmillan International At Mckee vs. Bear Exploration Center
Should you attend Macmillan International At Mckee or Bear Exploration Center? Visitors to our site frequently compare these two schools. Compare their rankings, test scores, reviews and more to help you determine which school is the best choice for you.
School Overview
School
Top Rankings
Macmillan International At Mckee ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Alabama for:
Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Math Proficiency
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Bear Exploration Center ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Alabama for:
Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Math Proficiency
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Diversity
Overview
Macmillan International At Mckee ranked #84 in Alabama in 2023, showing improvement from #323 in 2021 but declining from a peak of #43 in 2012; it consistently ranked among the top 10–20% for overall testing, math, reading, and science proficiency.
The school's 2023 math proficiency ranged between 50–54%, higher than the state average of 30%, while reading proficiency was 80–84%, substantially higher than the state average of 47%; science proficiency was 65–69%, also higher than the state average of 38%.
Enrollment was stable around 368 students in 2023 for grades K–5, with a student–teacher ratio of 18:1; minority enrollment remained very high at 97%, predominantly Black non–Hispanic students.
The percentage of students eligible for free lunch increased from 26% in 2016–2018 to 44% in 2023, indicating a rising proportion of economically disadvantaged students over recent years in this Montgomery County magnet school.
Graduation rates have consistently lagged behind state and district averages, with 70% in 2023 versus the state average of 88% and district average of 74%.
Bear Exploration Center ranked #63 in Alabama in 2023, down from a peak rank of #1 in 2010 and 2011, showing a notable decline in overall state ranking over the past decade.
Math proficiency was 59% in 2023, higher than the state average of 30%, while reading proficiency was 79%, also higher than the state average of 47%, and science proficiency ranged from 65% to 69%, exceeding the state average of 38%.
Minority enrollment accounted for approximately 70% of the 503 students enrolled from kindergarten through grade 5, with stable enrollment around 510 students and a student–teacher ratio near 18:1 in recent years.
Free or reduced–price lunch eligibility remained relatively low, around 17% combined in 2023, indicating a smaller proportion of socioeconomically disadvantaged students compared to many Title–I schools.
As a magnet school in Montgomery, AL, Bear Exploration Center offered a diverse curriculum including cultural arts, music, technology, and career–technical education, supporting a broad range of student interests.
Blue Ribbon Schools
Yes
Yes
Grades Offered
K-5
K-5
Total Students
383 students
503 students
% Male | % Female
43% | 57%
50% | 50%
Total Classroom Teachers
21 teachers
29 teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
18:1
17:1
Test Scores
Overall Testing Rank
#84 out of 1275 schools in AL
(Top 10%)
(Top 10%)
#63 out of 1275 schools in AL
(Top 5%)
(Top 5%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
50-54%
59%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
80-84%
79%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
65-69%
65-69%
Students by Grade
Students by Grade
Kindergarten Students
64
78
Grade 1 Students
59
75
Grade 2 Students
61
82
Grade 3 Students
56
84
Grade 4 Students
72
90
Grade 5 Students
71
94
Students by Ethnicity
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
1%
5%
% Hispanic
3%
5%
% Black
91%
57%
% White
3%
30%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
2%
3%
Diversity Score
0.17
0.59
Additional Information
Eligible for Free Lunch
44%
13%
Eligible for Reduced Lunch
11%
4%
