GIS 3015 Final Project: ACT Composite Scores and Participation Rates by State

The final project of the semester for our Cartographic Skills course tasked us with creating a thematic map to communicate two datasets to the public.  Conceptually, we were to consider the end use of the map as an accompaniment to a Washington Post article on test scores and high school seniors.  We were to choose either the SAT or ACT test as our target, then acquire and communicate via map the average test scores and participation rates by state.  I chose the ACT because it was the test I took over a decade ago when I first entered college at Ohio University.
The first step was to acquire the test and participation data.  The links for this data on both tests were provided in out lab instructions (with the ACT data being acquired from http://www.act.org/newsroom/data /2013/states.html).  I copied this data into an Excel worksheet.  I then created my initial ArcMap document with the data layer of the United States transformed to the North American Albers Equal Area Conic projection for a more pleasing visual.  I imported the Excel worksheet into ArcMap and joined it to the states layer.  This resulted in the basic ArcMap document I needed to create the final map.
Before exporting the map for final design work in Adobe Illustrator, I needed to decide exactly how to represent the two datasets.  I decided the simplest method would likely be to represent one dataset via a choropleth map of the states while the other would be represented via proportional symbol.  The provided map examples from prior years took this route.  After creating test maps with the data represented both ways, I decided to use a choropleth map to represent average test scores and proportional circle symbols to represent participation rates.  I chose a diverging color scheme for the choropleth map with six categories to make the score differences by state clear without overly cluttering the image.  For the participation rates a simple blue circle with five categories (each representing 20% increments) seemed to work the best visually.
I began in Illustrator by importing the main map of the contiguous United States with the legend.  I then imported layouts of only Hawaii and Alaska, the latter of which was resized to better fit the layout.  From ArcMap I had left turned on the labels showing each states participation rates in addition to their state abbreviation.  I had hoped to be able to resize the participation rates to fit within their circular symbols.  This worked relatively well except for the tightly bunched and small circles of New England.  In an attempt to make these more legible, I imported another layout from ArcMap showing only the New England states.  Of course, I could not also increase the size of the proportional symbols without creating an entire new symbology for the data, but the labels are nevertheless a bit clearer.
Due to the purpose of the map as well as the need to clearly communicate the two datasets, I decided to keep the map relatively simple.  I added drop shadows to the outlines of the states; I was initially displeased with how the drop shadows appeared within the lower 48 states, but I believe they give the map a sense of depth and relief.  Finally, I added neatlines and contrasting backgrounds to the inset maps and legend.
The final map shows a striking pattern of high test scores in states with low participation rates.  This pattern does not hold for every state, of course, but I am sure a statistical analysis would show a strong correlation between participation and score.  Incidentally, a glance at the data for the SAT scores and participation data shows a similar pattern.  This correlation may be related to students having a choice between the two tests versus being required to take one or the other.
In the end, I believe the finished map communicates the two datasets without unnecessary clutter or confusion.  The project instructions allow for the use of text to be included within the map layout for additional explanation, but I believe the map title and legend adequately communicate the content and purpose of the map.