School Spotlight: HSPVA

Image courtesy of montrosedistrict.org.

The High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, or HSPVA, was among the first magnet schools in HISD. And while many people assume that fine arts schools are less academically rigorous, the opposite is true of HSPVA – it challenges students both artistically and academically. It is ranked 19th in the state and 133rd in the nation by US News and World Reports. And in light of this, it’s hardly surprising that it’s also among HISD’s most sought-after high schools.

If you follow HISD news, you may have heard about HSPVA’s new campus, funded by the 2012 bond issue. Ground was broken in December 2014, and construction is underway now; it is scheduled to be finished in time for the 2017-2018 school year. Its location, at the corner of Rusk and Austin, will be convenient to Houston’s vibrant downtown arts district. The new facilities will include a mini theater, a black box theater, and an 800-seat main theater, as well as a recital hall, a garden, and indoor and outdoor art studios.

Image courtesy of swamplot.com.

The new campus will make HSPVA even better equipped to serve the specialized academic needs of its students. The magnet program offers concentrations in five arts disciplines: Creative Writing, Dance, Music, Theatre, and of course, Visual Art. The Music and Dance programs have received national acclaim, and all five concentrations boast alumni who have excelled in their chosen field.

If your child is considering a career in the fine arts, or if you believe the fine arts should comprise a major part of your child’s education, you can learn more about HSPVA at the Houston School Survey.