Stick With Band or Graduate With Honors?

Beginning in 2026-27, HPISD students no longer have to choose

The Highland Park ISD board of trustees has approved policy changes that will make it possible for high-performing students to explore their interests in the arts and athletics without taking a GPA hit.

The new rules, which start going into effect in the 2026-27 school year, will help students on track to graduate from high school with honors: those with grade point averages of above 4.0.

Because an A grade in the fine arts or athletics is worth less than an A in advanced placement or honors courses, top marks in those electives actually lower the GPAs of high-performing students. And some students with honors ambitions quit their electives to maximize their GPA.

But beginning in the

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