WASHINGTON—John Kizer, a 13-year-old home school student from Portsmouth, Ohio, won second place today in this year’s National Geography Bee held in Washington. He participated in Ohio’s Geography Bee for the past four years but this was his first trip to the national contest.

     For one so young, John has a long record of success. At age five he scored at the college level on a math test, and next week he competes in the Scripps-Howard National Spelling Bee.

     John’s father, John Kizer, Sr., explained that the family home schools their children because it’s the most efficient way to teach bright children. “We have always home schooled and always will,” he said.

     John wasn’t the only home schooler to do well in the National Geography Bee.

     Gulliver Hughes, a 14-year-old home school student from new Mexico, made his second consecutive trip to the National Geography Bee. At the beginning of the bee there were 57 contestants, one from each state and territory, and Gulliver made the top 10. Besides his success in learning geography, Hughes is the youngest tour guide at Albuquerque’s aquarium.

     The bee is organized by the National Geographic Society. For the tenth straight year Alex Trebek of “Jeopardy!” hosted the event.

     Reflecting on the importance of academic competitions, John Kizer, Sr., said academic achievement is underappreciated. If John, Jr., “had the same level of ability in football, they would be beating down the doors to get him in.”