Students are required to be picked up by 4:45pm each day unless in extended Fine Arts rehearsal.

Yes. GPFAA is a fully accredited, Texas public school that offers an official high school diploma for Grand Prairie ISD.

GPFAA has additional time during the school day to concentrate on the fine art classes - creating a unique schedule based around student interests. We do not offer athletics at GPFAA but focus on the creative fine arts.

No. However, the University Interscholastic League (UIL) states that for schools of choice, eligible students are able to participate in sports at their home campus. Please note that no instructional hours can be missed.

Each class is 90 minutes long.

4 classes per day.

Yes. Directors schedule and communicate practice times outside the regular school day.

Each Fine Art Strand has a parent-led, volunteer group who raise money, support the Strands and work with each Director. All parents are invited and encouraged to participate in their child’s Guild.

Yes, GPFAA also has a PTA that serves the entire campus as a whole. All parents are encouraged to join and are welcome to participate.

Parents are asked to drop off and pick up students at the front doors on the east side of the school.

The campus website contains each staff members’ email and biography.

GPFAA has four lunch sections, typically two for high school and two for middle school. Students are free to sit wherever they like.

GPFAA has a dress code that allows for student expression that “generally” follows the GPISD dress code. Violations are dealt with individually.

Due to the advanced academic rigor of GPFAA most students must set aside additional time for study, tutoring and homework to remain successful. GPFAA would not be considered an easy school to attend.

Yes. Each Strand keeps a calendar of upcoming events, performances, exhibits and similar activities. Directors will let parents know what type of communication to expect. Events are also on the school website.

Yes. We ask that you only bring lunch for your child. Parents are welcome to visit and have lunch in the cafeteria. Parent only may also deliver lunch. On district and State testing days, there will be no lunch drop-off or visitors due to the varying lunch schedules.

Yes. We ask that you only bring lunch for your child. Parents are welcome to visit and have lunch in the cafeteria. Parent only may also deliver lunch. On district and State testing days, there will be no lunch drop-off or visitors due to the varying lunch schedules.

We ask that all GPFAA students wear their school issued ID and it should remain visible on the front of their body for safety reasons.

Have your ID and then visit the Attendance Office, which is in the main hallway. You must be listed in Skyward to check out a student. We will call your child down when you arrive. We value instructional time.

Please call the Attendance Office at 972.343.6308 to report your child’s absence each day. If you have notes from a doctor/dentist or other similar reason, please provide those notes to the Attendance office within 3 days.

Yes, every student at GPFAA will receive an iPad.

The GPISD website has specific information about the bus routes, times, locations of all stops. Please check the district website for complete bus information. Bus routes commonly change from year to year and all parents are encouraged to check for updated routes. Out of district students need to contact transportation.

Drive safely! Purchase a parking pass from the main office for $20/year. Park in the student parking lot by Turner Gym.

GPISD publishes a standard school supply list on the district website prior to the start of school. If there are Strand specific supplies, we will share that with students once school starts.

Phantom Camp tends to be the first week of August. We host camp at the school, get started on team building within the Strands and welcome all of our new students to the GPFAA family!

Please visit the clinic, which is at the end of the main entrance hallway, or call the clinic at: 972.343.6306.

Attendance Office: 972.343.6308

Receptionist: 972.237.5603

Clinic: 972.343.6306

Cafeteria: 972.343.6312

GPFAA has an active social media presence that is updated regularly.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/gpfaa102   

Website: www.gpisd.org/finearts  

Twitter: @gpfaa102

Our colors are black and white/silver. Our mascot is the elusive Phantom!

Phones are allowed before and after school, during lunch and passing periods. Teachers may also allow usage during class – for educational purposes.

Skyward is the district computer system where parents can monitor grades and attendance. Skyward is a huge school-to-home link.

Yes. GPFAA has a library on the 2nd floor available to all students. We have a collection of both physical and online books in our collection available for check out.

We maintain a fair and firm accountability plan for students. Parents can expect a phone call when there is a problem. We use the GPISD Student Code of Conduct.

We realize that from time to time, parents would like to formally meet with the principal. GPFAA meets the demands of education through a team effort. Quite often meeting with the appropriate dean or assistant will yield faster results. Dean of Instruction, Dean of Fine Arts, and Assistant Principal.

Please update any phone numbers and email addresses that may change throughout the year by calling the receptionist. Having current phone numbers and address information is critical.

There is a team ready and willing to help any child experiencing difficulties at school. Encourage your child to speak with a teacher, counselor, or administrator.

26 credits are needed to graduate. The State of Texas designates the type of classes needed.

All high school courses taken, even if in middle school, contribute to the Grade Point Average. GPA is cumulative as students complete high school credit courses. GPA is calculated at the end of each semester. Colleges will us this information to determine acceptance.

All high school students are placed “in line” or “ranked” based on their individual GPA. Rank is their place in that line from first to last. Yes, many colleges ask for either GPA, rank, or both.

Our college and career counselors work with all students on college applications and financial forms. We have a Go Center that engages local, state, and national colleges/universities.

We assist students with any type of issue they may be experiencing at any time. We provide resources for families as well. Counselors help with course selection, schedules, college considerations, graduation, as well as daily social/emotional challenges! All students have access to the counselors all day every day.

If you are simply checking your child in/out for an appointment, please visit the Attendance Office with your ID. If you plan to stay for any reason, see the receptionist who will ask for your ID. All visitors will be entered in the Raptor System to ensure students safety. All visitors will wear an ID badge while on campus.

Our campus receptionist makes, receives and transfers calls, greets parents and visitors, assists with the Raptor check in/out system, issues visitor badges, and serves on the office team. This is usually the first stop when visiting the campus.

Get involved in the PTA and the Guilds. Keep your contact information current. Follow us on social media and share our successes with family and friends. Attend your child’s strand activities. Attend other strand activities. Be a team member with your child’s teachers – we have to work together.

Students order their class rings during the fall of their 11th grade year. Letter jackets cannot be earned until the end of a student’s 10th grade year. There are requirements to be met for fine arts or academics.

The GPISD website (www.gpisd.org), GPFAA Parent Remind, and the local media outlets.

Stay connected with our social media outlets listed in this document (Facebook, Website, Twitter, Remind, Email).

Students will be issued a locker during the first two weeks of school. Students need to provide their own locks: one for their school locker and one for their PE locker.

The building is open every morning at 7:00am. Students may eat breakfast, work on assignments, practice their instrument, or use their devices as they wait for class to begin.

No. Backpacks are not required but helpful.

Students will be issued textbooks for selected classes, while other classes use a classroom set or an online feature. This is dependent on the subject matter and the individual teacher.

Students will need appropriate attire and footwear for PE classes. Students will be provided an athletic locker in the PE gym to lock their items up, but they will need another lock for the PE locker.

Yes. The first couple of weeks the traffic is a hot mess! Traffic will continue to improve as the parents become more familiar with the traffic patterns and pick up plans. There are 3 lanes in which parents can use to pick up their student. The two lanes closest to the building are for pick up and drop off. The 3rd lane (away from the building) is a constant flow lane. This lane is for parents who have their child and are ready to exit. Please do not pick up students in the 3rd constant flow lane!

Yes. Your child can bring his/her lunch to school, get a school lunch and/or purchase items from the vending machines. We have a couple of microwaves for students who would like to heat up their lunch.

No. Students are NOT allowed to “run to Sonic or Subway” during their lunch times. GPFAA has a “closed campus” policy and students are not permitted to leave on their own during lunch.

Yes. GPFAA offers both dual credit and AP classes. Students will be able to enroll in both dual credit and Advanced Placement courses during our Spring Course Selection process.

Information about clubs will be available after the start of the school year. Clubs are student generated and student selected. Students can fill out the form to create their own club, have a staff member to sponsor the club, and get it approved by the administration.

Yes. GPFAA offers elective classes that enable students to participate in other strands in high school. Students are not permitted to compete with another strand. The only exception is the high school and middle school musical. Students from all strands can audition for the musicals held during the year.

Skyward! Progress Reports and Report Cards are generated through Skyward Family Access. Parents will create a Skyward account when they register students in GPISD. Parents will be able to access Skyward to monitor student progress throughout the year. Hard copy Report Cards are no longer sent home with students at the end of the grading period.