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Label Element Value
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Central Index Key dei_EntityCentralIndexKey 0000722885
Pear Tree Polaris Small Cap Fund  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Investment Objective, Heading rr_ObjectiveHeading

Investment Objective:
Investment Objective, Primary rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock

Maximum long-term capital appreciation.
Expense, Heading rr_ExpenseHeading

Fee Table and Expenses of Small Cap Fund
Expense, Narrative rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of Small Cap Fund.
Operating Expenses, Caption rr_OperatingExpensesCaption

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Portfolio Turnover, Heading rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading

Portfolio Turnover
Portfolio Turnover rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock

Small Cap Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect Small Cap Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, Small Cap Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 17 percent of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 17.00%
Expense Example, Heading rr_ExpenseExampleHeading

Example
Expense Example, Narrative rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in Small Cap Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in Small Cap Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5 percent return each year and that Small Cap Fund’s operating expenses remain the same as set forth in the table above. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Investment Strategy, Heading rr_StrategyHeading

Principal Investment Strategies
Investment Strategy, Narrative rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock

Under normal market conditions, Small Cap Fund invests at least 80 percent of its net assets (plus borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities, warrants, and rights derivative of or convertible into common stocks, in each case issued by small cap issuers. Small Cap Fund considers a small-cap issuer to be a company having at time of purchase a market capitalization of an issuer in the Russell 2000® Index (at the time of the index’s most recent rebalancing (May 2016), stocks with capitalizations of approximately $100 million to $5 billion), as well as a collective investment fund that invests at least 80 percent of its net assets in similar securities issued by other small cap issuers.

While most assets are typically invested in U.S. common stocks, Small Cap Fund may invest in American Depositary Receipts (ADRs), and other foreign stocks traded on U.S. exchanges in keeping with Small Cap Fund’s objectives. Fund assets also may be invested in growth stocks and value stocks. The sub-adviser generally considers growth stocks to be equity securities issued by companies that have sustainable competitive advantages and products or services that potentially could generate significantly greater-than-average revenue and earnings growth. The sub-adviser generally considers value stocks to be equity securities issued by companies that have underappreciated but stable earnings and cash flow and where there are visible and imminent inflection points and catalysts that will result in increased earnings and cash flow, driving stock appreciation.

 

Small Cap Fund’s sub-adviser uses proprietary investment technology combined with traditional, value-based, fundamental research to identify potential investments. The sub-adviser uses traditional valuation measures, including price/book ratios and price/sustainable free cash flow ratios to screen its database of more than 39,000 global companies. The sub-adviser uses these measures to identify approximately 500 companies with the greatest potential for undervalued streams of sustainable free cash flow. The sub-adviser conducts fundamental research, interviewing and visiting with company management and creating detailed financial models. The sub-adviser also maintains a “watch-list” of companies, which may be used if the valuation of a company held in Small Cap Fund’s portfolio falls below established limits.

 

Small Cap Fund’s sub-adviser may utilize options on existing security positions or indexes. The extent of the sub-adviser’s use of options may vary over time based on the sub-adviser’s assessment of market conditions and other factors.

 

Small Cap Fund may invest in other derivatives (i.e., a security or instrument whose value is determined by reference to the value or the change in value of one or more securities, currencies, indices or other financial instruments) for the purpose of hedging the value of the portfolio or to establish a position in the future. Small Cap Fund also may lend its securities. Small Cap Fund may hold cash, or it may manage its cash by investing in cash equivalents and money market funds.
Strategy Portfolio Concentration rr_StrategyPortfolioConcentration

Under normal market conditions, Small Cap Fund invests at least 80 percent of its net assets (plus borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities, warrants, and rights derivative of or convertible into common stocks, in each case issued by small cap issuers. Small Cap Fund considers a small-cap issuer to be a company having at time of purchase a market capitalization of an issuer in the Russell 2000® Index (at the time of the index’s most recent rebalancing (May 2016), stocks with capitalizations of approximately $100 million to $5 billion), as well as a collective investment fund that invests at least 80 percent of its net assets in similar securities issued by other small cap issuers.
Risk, Heading rr_RiskHeading

Principal Investment Risks
Risk, Narrative rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock

It is possible to lose money by investing in Small Cap Fund. An investment in Small Cap Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

 

Market, Industry and Specific Holdings. The share price of Small Cap Fund may fall because of weakness in the stock markets, generally, weaknesses with respect to a particular industry in which Small Cap Fund has significant holdings, or weaknesses associated with one or more specific companies in which Small Cap Fund may have substantial investments.

 

Active Management Risk. The sub-adviser’s judgments about the attractiveness, value, or potential appreciation of Small Cap Fund’s investments may prove to be incorrect.

 

Small-Capitalization Securities. Investments in small-capitalization companies typically present greater risks than investments in larger companies and, as a result, the performance of Small Cap Fund may be more volatile than a fund that invests in large-cap stocks.

 

Growth and Value Stock Investing. Different investment styles periodically come into and fall out of favor with investors. Growth stocks generally are more volatile than the overall stock market. Value stocks generally carry the risk that the market will not recognize their intrinsic value or that they are actually appropriately priced at a low level.

 

Foreign Investing. Small Cap Fund’s investments in foreign securities (including ADRs) may be adversely affected by political and economic conditions overseas, reduced liquidity, or decreases in foreign currency values relative to the U.S. dollar.

 

Liquidity Risk. Small Cap Fund may not be able to sell some or all of its securities at desired prices or may be unable to sell the securities at all.

 

Sector. Small Cap Fund may have significant investments in one or more specific industry sectors, subjecting it to risks greater than general market risk.

 

Investments in Another Collective Investment Fund. To the extent that Small Cap Fund invests in another collective investment fund, such as a mutual fund or exchange-traded fund (ETF), its investment performance would be directly related to the investment performance of the other fund. It also would bear its proportionate share of any management and other fees paid by the other fund, subjecting Small Cap Fund shareholders to some duplication of fees.

 

Non-Diversification. Small Cap Fund is “non-diversified”, which means that it may invest a higher percentage of its assets in a smaller number of issuers. As a result, a decline in the value of the securities of one issuer could have a significant negative effect on Small Cap Fund.

 

Securities Lending. Securities lending involves two primary risks: investment risk and borrower default risk. Investment risk is the risk that Small Cap Fund will lose money from the investment of the cash collateral received from the borrower. Borrower default risk is the risk that Small Cap Fund will lose money due to the failure of a borrower to return a borrowed security in a timely manner.

 

Derivatives. Small Cap Fund’s investments in currency futures, options and other derivative instruments are subject to a number of risks, such as counterparty risk, the risk of mispricing or improper valuation, and the risk that the value of the instrument may not increase or decrease as expected. Options contracts also are subject to the risks of leveraged transactions, and it may be difficult or impossible for the Fund to liquidate an open option contract.

 

Please refer to “Fund Objectives, Strategies and Risks” in the Prospectus for further details.
Risk, Lose Money rr_RiskLoseMoney

It is possible to lose money by investing in Small Cap Fund.
Risk, Nondiversified Status rr_RiskNondiversifiedStatus

Non-Diversification. Small Cap Fund is “non-diversified”, which means that it may invest a higher percentage of its assets in a smaller number of issuers. As a result, a decline in the value of the securities of one issuer could have a significant negative effect on Small Cap Fund.
Risk, Not Insured Depository Institution rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution

An investment in Small Cap Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
Bar Chart and Performance Table, Heading rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading

Past Performance
Performance, Narrative rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock

The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in Small Cap Fund by showing changes in the Small Cap Fund’s performance over time. The tables also compare Small Cap Fund’s performance to a broad measure of market performance that reflects the type of securities in which Small Cap Fund invests. Past performance does not necessarily indicate how Small Cap Fund will perform (before and after taxes) in the future. Performance shown for periods prior to January 1, 2015 does not reflect the current investment strategy or the performance of the current sub-adviser. Updated performance information is available at www.peartreefunds.com.

 

A Note on Performance

 

Ordinary Shares and Institutional Shares commenced operations on August 3, 1992 and January 6, 1993, respectively. Returns shown prior to a class’s commencement date are returns of Ordinary Shares that have been recalculated to reflect the gross fees and expenses of that class. Returns for Institutional Shares would have been substantially similar to the returns of Ordinary Shares because each share class is invested in the same portfolio of securities, and returns would differ only to the extent that expenses of the class are different.
Performance, Information Illustrates Variability of Returns rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns

The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in Small Cap Fund by showing changes in the Small Cap Fund’s performance over time.
Performance Additional Market Index [Text] rr_PerformanceAdditionalMarketIndex

The tables also compare Small Cap Fund’s performance to a broad measure of market performance that reflects the type of securities in which Small Cap Fund invests.
Performance Availability Website Address rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress

www.peartreefunds.com
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture

Past performance does not necessarily indicate how Small Cap Fund will perform (before and after taxes) in the future.
Bar Chart Heading rr_BarChartHeading

Calendar Year Total Returns – Ordinary Shares The bar chart below provides performance information for Small Cap Fund’s Ordinary Shares.
Bar Chart Does Not Reflect Sales Loads rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads

Performance shown for periods prior to January 1, 2015 does not reflect the current investment strategy or the performance of the current sub-adviser.
Bar Chart, Closing rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock

Calendar year-to-date return of the Ordinary Shares of Small Cap Fund as of December 31, 2016 was 20.88%.

Best Quarter:         Q3 2009       17.75 %  
Worst Quarter:         Q4 2008       (33.47 )%  
Year to Date Return, Label rr_YearToDateReturnLabel

Calendar year-to-date return of the Ordinary Shares of Small Cap Fund as
Year to Date Return, Date rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate Dec. 31, 2016
Year to Date Return rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn 20.88%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel

Best Quarter:
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Sep. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 17.75%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel

Worst Quarter:
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Dec. 31, 2008
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (33.47%)
Performance Table Heading rr_PerformanceTableHeading

Average Annual Total Returns for the periods ended December 31, 2016
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state or local taxes.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred

The after-tax returns shown are not relevant if you hold your shares in a retirement account or in another tax-deferred arrangement.
Performance Table, One Class of after Tax Shown rr_PerformanceTableOneClassOfAfterTaxShown

After-tax returns are shown only for Ordinary Shares and after-tax returns for Institutional Shares may vary.
Performance Table Explanation after Tax Higher rr_PerformanceTableExplanationAfterTaxHigher

Actual after-tax returns may differ depending on your individual circumstances.
Performance Table, Closing rr_PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock

After-Tax Returns. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state or local taxes. The after-tax returns shown are not relevant if you hold your shares in a retirement account or in another tax-deferred arrangement. After-tax returns are shown only for Ordinary Shares and after-tax returns for Institutional Shares may vary. Actual after-tax returns may differ depending on your individual circumstances.
Pear Tree Polaris Small Cap Fund | Russell 2000 Index  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Index No Deduction for Fees, Expenses, Taxes rr_IndexNoDeductionForFeesExpensesTaxes

Reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 21.31%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 14.46%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 7.07%
Pear Tree Polaris Small Cap Fund | Ordinary Shares  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.80%
Distribution (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.25%
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.30%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets 0.12%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.47%
Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets [1]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses after Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets [1]
Fee Waiver or Reimbursement over Assets, Date of Termination rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssetsDateOfTermination

July 31, 2018
1 year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 149
3 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 463
5 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 800
10 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 1,753
Annual Return 2007 rr_AnnualReturn2007 0.18%
Annual Return 2008 rr_AnnualReturn2008 (49.30%)
Annual Return 2009 rr_AnnualReturn2009 33.35%
Annual Return 2010 rr_AnnualReturn2010 26.93%
Annual Return 2011 rr_AnnualReturn2011 (4.53%)
Annual Return 2012 rr_AnnualReturn2012 13.39%
Annual Return 2013 rr_AnnualReturn2013 40.21%
Annual Return 2014 rr_AnnualReturn2014 (6.81%)
Annual Return 2015 rr_AnnualReturn2015 (1.48%)
Annual Return 2016 rr_AnnualReturn2016 20.88%
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 20.88%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 12.03%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 3.77%
Pear Tree Polaris Small Cap Fund | Ordinary Shares | After Taxes on Distributions  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 20.48%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 11.01%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 3.21%
Pear Tree Polaris Small Cap Fund | Ordinary Shares | After Taxes on Distributions and Sales  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 12.02%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 9.44%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 2.91%
Pear Tree Polaris Small Cap Fund | Institutional Shares  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.80%
Distribution (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.30%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets 0.12%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.22%
Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets 0.12% [1]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses after Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 1.10% [1]
Fee Waiver or Reimbursement over Assets, Date of Termination rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssetsDateOfTermination

July 31, 2018
1 year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 112
3 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 374
5 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 657
10 years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 1,462
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 21.20%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 12.30%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 4.04%
[1] The Manager, in its capacity as transfer agent to Pear Tree Funds, has contractually agreed until July 31, 2018 to waive such portion of the fees that it would otherwise receive for serving as transfer agent under its agreement with Pear Tree Funds such that the aggregate transfer agent fee with respect to Institutional Shares would be calculated using an annual rate of 0.04 percent of Small Cap Fund's net assets attributable to Institutional Shares. This fee waiver only may be terminated with the approval of the Trustees. The aggregate transfer agent fee with respect to Ordinary Shares remains unchanged.