Top Finishers in National Spelling Bee Competition - 2008

The 81st National Spelling Bee just concluded in Washington D.C. Sameer Mishra of West Lafayette, Indiana was the winner, followed by Sidharth Chand of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Here's a look at Top 12 finishers on Google Maps (includes information on words spelled incorrectly)

Google Mapping Top High Schools (2008) in United States

Newsweek has published a list of Top High Schools (1300+) in United States. Topping the list is "Basis Charter" from Tucson, Arizona. Alaska, Hawaii and North Dakota did not have any schools listed.

Check out Newsweek's entire list of Top 1300+ schools in United States on Google Maps at mibazaar.

Denmark tops in Network Readiness

Denmark tops the list of countries in "Network Readiness" in a report released by the World Economic Forum. United States also has a good showing coming in at #4. The same report lists Iceland as the top country in "Internet Access in Schools". Here the United States ranks 12th behind Estonia, Austria, Netherlands, Korea, Singapore...

Here's a Google Maps View of the above Data.

Cities in Crisis - Low High School Graduation Rates

A report released by America's Promise Alliance finds that America's largest cities (click image for Google Maps View) are struggling to keep students in school. The report states

Our analysis finds that graduating from high school in the America’s largest cities amounts, essentially, to a coin toss. Only about one-half (52 percent) of students in the principal school systems of the 50 largest cities complete high school with a diploma. That rate is well below the national graduation rate of 70 percent, and even falls short of the average for urban districts across the country (60 percent). Only six of these 50 principal districts reach or exceed the national average. In the most extreme cases (Baltimore, Cleveland, Detroit, and Indianapolis), fewer than 35 percent of students graduate with a diploma.

Intel Science Talent Search 2008

Shivani Sud, 17 who attends Charles E. Jordan High School in Durham, North Carolina won the top prize in the prestigious Intel Science Talent Search. The winner was announced last night in Washington DC. Shivani Sud won a $100,000 scholarship.

Shivani had submitted a bioinformatics and genomics project to Intel Science Talent Search that focused on identifying stage II colon cancer patients at high risk for recurrence and the best therapeutic agents for treating their tumors.

A versatile student, Shivani Sud is a Teen Court student attorney, a Durham Rescue Mission volunteer and performs classical and modern Indian dance.(via)

There were a total of 40 Finalists from schools across United States as shown in this Google Maps Mashup.

America's Smartest Cities - 2008

So which cities are America's Brightest Bulbs? Check out this Google Maps Mashup of Forbes List of America's Smartest Cities. How did Forbes come up with this list? (all are college towns)

To determine their rankings, FORBES used Sperling's BestPlaces and compared the percentages of people ages 25 and up with at least a bachelor's degree.

Professors that live in a school's surrounding area contribute to the increased percentage of informed inhabitants for these cities. Bert Sperling, founder of BestPlaces, explains that these faculty members, in conjunction with ex-students, are the main forces driving up the percentages.

Nebraska Twins get perfect ACT Scores

CNN is reporting that Twin Brothers Brian and Ross DeVol who are seniors at Bellevue East High School, Bellevue, Nebraska (Google Maps View) - both scored 36 on ACT. Ross DeVol scored 36 on his 3rd try.

CNN further adds

The brothers are both good in physics and are considering the University of Nebraska or Creighton University in Omaha as their college choices, but they haven't yet decided.

Ross DeVol said he wants to become a doctor or a psychiatrist. Brian DeVol has said he wants to become an actuary.

Congratulations to Brian and Ross.

Related:
Average ACT Test Scores in United States
Top High Schools in United States
100 Best Values in Public Colleges in United States

100 Best Values in Public Colleges - Mapped!

Kiplinger.com has come out with a list of 100 Best Values in Public Colleges. Click here for a Google Maps View of the 100 Best Values in Public Colleges. This Google Maps Mashup sorts the list by In State Rank, Out of State Rank, 4 year Graduation Rates, 6 year Graduation Rates, In State Cost, Out of State Cost.

For a look at the methodology used in coming with the rankings click here.

ACT Scores by State (2007) - Mapped!

I have mapped out ACT Scores by State for 2007. This Google Maps Mashup shows the State Ranking in following categories:

• Percentage of Graduates Tested
• Average Composite Scores
• Average Math Scores
• Average Reading Scores
• Average Science Scores
• Average English Scores

Related: Top 100 High Schools in United States

Journey from Refugee Camps in Africa to Princeton University

This is a remarkable story of Abass Hassan Mohammed. His journey starts in Somalia where he was born and then continues to refugee camps in North Eastern Kenya where he received his high school education. His academic achievements in High School leads to an acceptance at Princeton University. (more at NEWSWEEK).

I have tried my best to Google Map Abass Hassan's journey.

American History, Geography, Trivia and...Americana

Here's a great Mashup I bumped into at GoogleMapsMania. It is...quoting the map creator

The most interesting pieces of American history, geography, trivia and .. Americana. To be visited if one has excess time, money and inclination

Colleges Nostalgic for Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton

Want to know which colleges are most nostalgic for Ronald Reagan or Bill Clinton? If you do then check out this Google Maps View of those College Locations. (Source: Princeton Review)

Canadian Universities Mapped

Here's a great Google Maps Mashup of Canadian Universities. A nice feature in this mashup is that you can "Zoom Way In" and take a look around at the campus. Learn more about each of the Canadian University by clicking on the University Link and/or Wikipedia Link. (via googlemapsmania).

Click here for more Educational Mashups

Think College is expensive? How about $30,440 for Preschool

Forbes has come out with a list of "Most Expensive Preschools". The Tuition ranges from $30,440 to a mere $13,169. Quoting FORBES:

If you're like many new parents, nothing's too good for your little genius, including $30,440 for preschool so your 4-year-old can occupy a few hours each day playing with blocks and finger painting in an organized setting.

Here's a Google Maps View of "Most Expensive Preschools".

25 Hottest Universities in United States

Here's a Google Maps Mashup of Newsweek's 25 Hottest Universities.

These Universities are Hot..Hot in...

• Hottest Ivy (Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y.)
• Hottest for Sports Fans (University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla.)
• Hottest Men's College (Morehouse College, Atlanta, GA)
• Hottest for No SAT or ACT Needed (Bates College, Lewiston, Maine)
• Hottest for Science and Engineering (California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, Calif.)
• Hottest Liberal-Arts School You Never Heard Of (Centenary College of Louisiana, Shreveport, La)
• Hottest for Rejecting You (Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass)
• Hottest for Election Year (Claremont McKenna College, Claremont, Calif)
• Hottest on The Rebound (Tulane University, New Orleans, LA)
• Hottest for Free Tuition (Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, New York, NY)
• Hottest Mega-University (University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, Calif.)
• Hottest Catholic School (Fordham University, New York, N.Y.)
• Hottest Big-City School (Georgetown University, Washington D.C.)
• Hottest for Pre-Meds (Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD)
• Hottest in the War on Terror (New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Socorro, N.M.)
• Hottest Small State School (State University of New York at New Paltz, New Paltz, N.Y.)
• Hottest for Liberal Arts (Princeton University, Princeton, N.J.)
• Hottest for First-Generation Students (Queens College (City University of New York), Queens, NY)
• Hottest for Loving the Great Outdoors (St. Mary's College of Maryland, St. Mary's, Md.)
• Hottest Women's College (Smith College, Northampton, Mass.)
• Hottest Music School (Eastman School of Music, Rochester, N.Y.)
• Hottest for Saving America's Schools (University of Texas-Austin, Austin, TX)
• Hottest Big State School (University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI)
• Hottest for International Studies (University of Richmond, Richmond, VA)
• Hottest for Business (Babson College, Babson Park, Mass)

Google Mapping Math and Reading Test Scores

Here's a Google Maps View of States with Math and Reading Tests which are more difficult/easy compared to Nationally Administered Tests.

For example in Math Tests: Missouri had 16% of the students scoring proficient or better in State Administered tests compared with 26% of the students who scored proficient or better in nationally administered tests.

Now compare Missouri with Tennessee:
In Tennessee 87% of the students scored proficient or better in state administered Tests compared with 21% of the students who scored better or proficient in Nationally Administered Tests.

(Source: Time Magazine)

How a Bill becomes a Law - Mapped

Want to know the exact path a bill in US Congress takes to reach the President's desk before it becomes a law, then you should definitely check out this cool Google Maps Mashup. (found at ProgrammableWeb)

America's Smartest Cities Mapped

America's Smartest Cities as mentioned at CNN Money has been mapped out on Google Maps. Seattle, WA is the top ranked city where 52.7 percent of its residents 25 years or older have atleast a bachelor's degree. (via)

Top High Schools in America - 2007

Here's a Google Maps view of Newsweek's Top 100 High Schools in America for 2007.

America's Top Medical Schools

Here's the updated Google Maps Mashup of "America's Top Medical Schools" with 2007 data from USNews

Will be updating Google Maps Mashup of "Top Business Schools" and "Top Engineering Schools" soon.

Fortune 100 Mashup mentioned in Information Week

Welcome to readers from Information Week, GoogleMapsMania and ProgrammableWeb.

The Information Week article shows a image of my Google Maps Mashup of Fortune 100 Best Companies to work for in 2006. I have also created a Mashup of Fortune 100 Best Companies to work for in 2007. Links follow:

Related Google Maps Mashups:

Fortune 100 Best Companies (2006)
Fortune 100 Best Companies (2007) (Includes list of Top 25 paying companies)
Top 10 Highest Paid Men
Top 10 Highest Paid Women

Highest paid College Presidents
Most Expensive Colleges
Top 10 Colleges (in various categories:Always Study, Never Study,Party...)
Top Business Schools
Top Medical Schools
Top Engineering Schools
Top High Schools