Mapping Public Schools in Ward 7: A Cartographic Design Approach

 

Mapping Public Schools in Ward 7: A Cartographic Design Approach

 Final map layout showing Ward 7 public schools, symbolized by school type 

with inset map and numbered reference list.

For this lab, I put together a cartographic layout of public schools in Ward 7, Washington, D.C. using ArcGIS Pro. The goal was to actually apply the design concepts we’ve been learning—things like visual hierarchy, contrast, and figure-ground—and see how they play out in a real map.

I organized the schools by type using color and size so they’re easy to tell apart at a glance. High schools stand out the most, then middle, then elementary. I also added neighborhood labels and used curved text to label the Anacostia River, which made the map feel a lot more polished. The layout includes all the required elements like an inset map, legend, scale bar, north arrow, and a numbered school list so everything is clear without overcrowding the map.

The most frustrating (and honestly time-consuming) part was trying to get rid of the basemap source text (“Sources: Esri…”). It’s built into the map frame, so it wouldn’t just delete like normal text. After trying multiple approaches, I ended up covering it with a rectangle and replacing it with my own formatted credits. It worked out in the end and actually made the layout look cleaner.

Overall, this lab really showed me how much design choices matter. Small changes in color, size, and placement can make a huge difference in how easy a map is to read.