ABOUT THE COMPETITION

The “My California GIS Mapping Showcase and Competition” is an annual event that began in 2016. This exciting statewide opportunity encourages middle (4th-8th grade) and high school (9th-12th grade) students to harness the power of Geographic Information Systems and get connected with their state by producing an online map that focuses on stories, issues, or ideas that are important to them.

Each school is eligible to submit a maximum of five entries. The winners of the State competition go on to compete in the National competition sponsored by ESRI.

ABOUT RUTTER MIDDLE SCHOOL

Rutter Middle School is a grade 7 and 8 school in Sacramento which is part of the Elk Grove Unified School District. School enrollment is typically about 900 students. Demographically the student body is very diverse with a high immigrant and 25% English Learner population. Fifteen different languages are spoken.

The school has an economically disadvantaged student population. Eighty-five percent of the students come from families in poverty. As such Rutter Middle School receives Title One funds. In academic performance Rutter ranks in the bottom quarter of California middle schools with about 25% of students meeting State standards in English Language Arts Literacy and Mathematics.

The students who compete in the California Story Map competition are enrolled in the Computer Technology class taught by Dr. Karen Sanko and complete the Web Mapping Mini course provided by the California Environmental Technology Education Network. Both the teaching of the mini course and the coaching of the Story Map team is done by Marc Epstein, the Network Director.