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Pine Crest Upper School Student Earns Perfect Score at International Academic Competition Geography
December 9th 2025
Pine Crest Upper School student John Castle ’28, recently achieved a perfect score on the Varsity Qualifying Exam for the International Academic Competitions (IAC) Geography Bee, a remarkable accomplishment that places him among the top geography students in the nation.
Each year, thousands of students across the United States take regional qualifying exams for the IAC Geography Bee, held either in person or online. Out of those participants, only approximately 100 students advance to the Varsity National Championships, making the competition highly selective and academically challenging.
John is currently one of four students nationwide to score a perfect 100, which is an extraordinary feat that reflects not only deep knowledge of geography but also strong analytical thinking and attention to detail. As a sophomore, John is tied for the youngest student to achieve a perfect score.
The IAC Geography Bee is part of the U.S. Geography Championships, a nationally recognized competition designed to challenge and inspire students with a passion for the world, its people and its places. Participants face advanced questions covering physical geography, cultural landmarks, global issues and map interpretation.
This summer, John will compete at the International Geography Competition (IGC) in Khao Lak, Thailand.
Congratulations, John!
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