The High School for the Performing and Visual Arts / Homepage

HSPVA Jazz Sextet on Peer-to-Peer Education Tour
HSPVA was one of two schools nationwide selected by the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz...read more.

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HSPVA Retains Exemplary Status
HSPVA has been designated a 2013-2015 Exemplary School by Arts School Network. Read more.

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Congratulations to Dr. Allen!
Dr. Allen was honored with the HEB Excellence in Education Award. Read more.

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New HSPVA?

HSPVA is planning to move from its aging Montrose digs to a new location downtown. Read more.
See more in The Daily Cougar.

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HSPVA Ranks Among the Best
US News and World Report has released their list of the best high schools in the nation. Read more.

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HSPVA Ranks High Nationally
The Washington Post has ranked HSPVA 136th among over 1900 high schools rated in the U.S. Read more.

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Charles Seo Featured
Even as he masters cello, he stays mellow. Read more.

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Parent Notification:
Promotion Standards for the 2012-13 School Year

Welcome!

As Principal, it is my great pleasure to welcome you to our new website for The High School for Performing and Visual Arts (HSPVA).

We are in our 41st year of excellence in the arts and academics at HSPVA in the Houston Independent School District! We continue to celebrate what makes us one of the nation's most prestigious high schools: our proud heritage, dedicated staff, successful alumni, supportive parents, and, most importantly, our gifted and talented students.

Conceived over forty years ago as a bold experiment in trust and education, HSPVA became the model for arts education across the country and abroad. Today, HSPVA continues to be a blue print in providing students the art and academic skills to be successful in the twenty-first century.

For forty years, the students of HSPVA have learned that combining artistic expression with a strong work ethic is an essential ingredient to success in the arts. Organization, commitment and discipline are as necessary as paint, instruments, sheet music, scripts or toe shoes. Curiosity and creativity at HSPVA have become as natural as breathing for both our faculty and our students. The people who enter the doors of our school quickly learn there are no easy solutions to complex problems, but determination will always prevail.

The bold experiment of 1971 is now a recognized institution. As with all experiments the challenge of the future for HSPVA will be to hold to that spirit of trust of our founders, while embracing the change necessary to continue to be the pioneer in arts education.

The entire school community is proud of our unprecedented achievements since our inception in 1971. HSPVA has more Presidential Scholars in the Arts than any other school in the nation. We continue to hold the highest ranking possible under the Texas Education Agency's accountability system, garnering the most prestigious rank of "Exemplary." We look forward to continuing the progress that we made last year to fulfill, even better, our mission to provide a balanced program of rigorous training in the arts and challenging academics.

HSPVA is truly a school like no other. As I walk the hallways of the school and observe students studying and participating in dance, theatre, vocal and instrumental music, the visual arts, creative writing, and the academics, I realize how fortunate they are to have a fine arts campus to attend in the Houston Independent School District. The students work hard in both the academics and the arts in order to move toward their goals of graduation and beyond. Our faculty and staff are dedicated to helping students reach their goals and dreams.

After this visit to our website, you are invited to come back for more – more information about HSPVA events, photos, more news, and more HSPVA magic and excitement!

Our school is rich in a tradition of excellence. I look forward to continuing to work with all stakeholders in moving HSPVA to an even higher level of achievement, both academic and artistic. Please let me know if there is anything, I can do to help you at HSPVA.

Sincerely,

R. Scott Allen, Ed.D.

Principal