Across the US, high school and middle school students are exploring their world and creating interesting map products using ArcGIS Online. Esri now challenges students to create and share maps about some topic in their home state, working to be among the best in the school, state, and nation.

The ArcGIS Online School Competition  is open to US high school (9-12) and middle school (4-8) students who can analyze, interpret, and present data via an ArcGIS Online presentation, web app, or story map.

The Basics of the State Level Competition

Note: Arizona's competition is governed by Esri's National Competition Rules in addition to the eligibility outlined below.

Eligibility:

Entrants must be registered in a recognized public, private or home school in grades 4-12 and must be 18 years of age or less. Students can work singly or in teams of two but can participate in only one entry. Teams with a student in middle school and a student in high school will be entered in the high school competition. Any school may submit a maximum of 5 total entries. This limit of 5 includes the sum of middle school and high school entries.

Steps:

   1)  One adult sponsor registers his or her school/organization by March 10, 2024 (registered sponsors will be contacted with information on how to submit entries).

   2)  Ensure the sponsor school/organization has an Esri ArcGIS Online organizational account.  If you are not certain or need an account, here is a video or transcript for help.

   3) School/organization promotes the competition and supports participants in the creation of story maps or web apps that:

          •   Answer an Arizona-based question,

          •  Propose a solution to an Arizona-based problem, or

          •  Address an Arizona-based issue.

   4)  School/organization collects and judges the maps/apps (if there are more than 5 entries) before May 6, 2024

For an opportunity to receive mentoring feedback, please submit draft entry by March 10, 2024.  Submissions will receive feedback and be able to resubmit by the contest deadline in May. 

   5)  School/organization submits up to 5 entries to the competition by May 6, 2024.

   6)   Arizona judges select the top 5 HS and top 5 MS (grades 4-8) entries, award $100 prize to each winning entry, and enter the 10 state-level winners in the Esri national competition

Special thanks to the leadership team coordinating Arizona's AGOL Student Competition:  

Christel Bruno, STEM Specialist, Arizona Department of Education  

Lori Rubino-Hare, Professional Development Coordinator/Research Associate, NAU Center for Science Teaching and Learning   

Carla McAuliffe, Senior Education Researcher, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES)

Jenna Leveille, Arizona Deputy State Cartographer, Arizona State Land Department (ASLD)