Cartographic Skills, Final Project

This map shows the average composite ACT score by state throughout the nation.  The scores range between 18.9 and 23.9.  The percent of graduates tested ranges from 9% - 100%.  New England has a low participation rate while maintaining high scores.  Comparatively, majority of the mid-west has a higher participation rate with varying scores.  The national average score is 21.1 with 45% of graduates tested.  

This is my final project of the semester for Cartographic Skills.  The goal of this project was to find and present a map showing two different datasets.  I decided to use a colored choropleth map with proportional circles.  The graduated colors represent the percent of graduates tested in each state and the proportional circles represent the average composite score of the ACT.  Using these two designs together allows the data to be compared easily and side-by-side.  This allows the reader to immediately identify any trends.