How Schools Register

Principals of schools in the U.S. with any of the grades four through eight are eligible to register their schools to receive contest materials for a school-level Bee. Heads of homeschool associations (made up of support groups) may register to receive contest materials to arrange a Bee for support groups that are in their area or county. If there is no homeschool association in the area, we may allow an official support group to register and conduct a Bee for all interested homeschoolers in their area and/or county-wide. Contact the Bee office at 1 202 828 6659. The person who is designated to receive contest materials must be the person who directs the Bee and administers the qualifying test to the winner after that winner is determined.

Keep in mind that there is a minimum participation requirement of six students from the eligible grade levels in a school-level Bee. Also, the contest materials may not be in the hands of relatives of a participating student at any time.

In early September, principals may write a letter on school letterhead and enclose the registration fee of U.S. $100 until October 15, after October 15 is $120, requesting that their school receive the contest materials. In their letter, principals may designate a teacher in the school to be the recipient of the contest materials.

Mail the letter and registration fee of $100 (check or money order made payable to National Geographic) to:

National Geographic Bee

1145 17th Street NW

Washington, D.C. 20036

Purchase orders are acceptable. Payment by check is preferable as a cancelled check is proof payment has been received by us and registration has been processed. Registration after October 15 increases to $120, until final deadline of December 14.

Faxed registrations are not accepted. No registration will be processed after December 14.

We cannot be responsible for incomplete, late, lost, or misdirected mail. Please make sure your information is on time, complete, and sent to the correct address above. Letter and check cannot be sent separately.  They must be sent together in the same envelope.

Once a school registers and is in the system, there are no refunds. Schools may produce only one school Bee winner, so it is up to the school to register only once. If a school registers twice and receives two packets, no refund can be given.

Schools with proper registrations received at our offices by October 15 will be sent the school contest materials in mid-November. If the registration is after October 15, schools will be sent their contest materials within three weeks of us having received the complete registration.

More guidelines regarding rules for eligibility and suggested procedures for school-level Bees can be found in the Instruction Booklet sent to registered schools. School-level Bees are the responsibility of the school. Parents must work through their schools as we operate this contest through them.

Vendor Information

• The National Geographic Society is the sole source for the National Geographic Bee school-level contest materials.
• The National Geographic Bee is administered on a not-for-profit basis by the National Geographic Society.
• The federal tax identification number for the National Geographic Society is 53-0193519. Download a completed NGS W-9 form
• We do not complete vendor information forms. You may use this memorandum, or this information provided in this memorandum, to add the National Geographic Bee as a vendor in your system.
• The below address is for the National Geographic Bee registration ONLY. Find out how to order Bee study materials

Remittance Address:

National Geographic Bee

c/o National Geographic Society

1145 17th Street NW

Washington, D.C. 20036