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.

Principals may write a letter on school letterhead and enclose the registration fee of U.S. $70 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 $70 (check or money order made payable to National Geographic) to:


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.

Faxed registrations are not accepted.

Official registration normally ends October 15 every year. The Beeline phone number—+1 202 828 6659—will give updates including any deadline extensions that have been granted. Listen carefully to that message. Once registration is closed, it is closed to all. NO EXCEPTIONS!



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.

Once a school registers and is mailed a packet, 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 whose proper registrations are received at our offices by October 15 will be sent the school contest materials in mid-November. If the registration deadline is extended past October 15, schools that register later will be sent their contest materials within three weeks of us having received the complete registration.

After clicking on the database above ("CHECK YOUR SCHOOL'S REGISTRATION") to confirm we received the school's registration by the required deadline, a school should notify us at +1 202 828 6659 if it has registered and has not received the contest materials by the times mentioned above.

More complete 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.