District curriculum opportunities include student participation in visual arts, band, choir, dance, mariachi, orchestra, and theater. While these courses involve the majority of students, enrichment courses include music theater production, music theory, music history, vocal and jazz ensemble, and a variety of medium- specific courses in visual arts. Advanced Placement is available in Art History and Music Theory. Northside is one of only very few districts of substantial size that has established an elementary art and music curriculum to be taught only by certified art and music instructors K-5 on 100% of the district elementary campuses.
Our campus performances and galleries reflect the excellence in teaching, the quality of student mastery, and the rigor required for success. The Fine Arts Department is committed to providing our students and teachers cutting edge environments in which to differentiate instruction and to participate in venues that serve to enhance learning. Public performance and gallery initiatives allow our students to grow personally and serve to connect outstanding campus fine art programs to a great city, state, and nation. World-renown artists, conductors, clinicians, and consultants constantly make meaningful connections to our students in the classroom. Northside performing ensembles and student art work continue to be recognized at the state and national level.
Most importantly, we desire that our students have a golden opportunity to create and to imagine what can be. Regardless of the student’s interest level to be at an appreciation level, an understanding level, or a mastery level of learning, we teach our students to use the skills that are unique to fine arts to facilitate and to elevate their role as quality citizens, great leaders, incredible problem-solvers, professional artists, and yes... as lifelong consumers of the arts.
Upcoming Musicals & Events
Aladdin – Dual Language
Holmes High School
- Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 7 p.m.
- Thursday, Oct. 22 at 7 p.m.
- Friday, Oct. 23 at 7 p.m.
- Cost: $10
SIX: Teen Edition
Taft High School
- Thursday, Oct. 22 at 7 p.m.
- Friday, Oct. 23 at 7 p.m.
- Saturday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m.
- Cost: $7 for students with ID; $12 for adults; $15 for reserved seating
Puffs
Marshall High School
- Wednesday, Oct. 28 at 7 p.m.
- Thursday, Oct. 29 at 7 p.m.
- Friday, Oct. 30 at 7 p.m.
- Cost: $7 for students; $15 for adults
The Addams Family
Jay High School
- Friday, Nov. 6 at 6 p.m.
- Saturday, Nov. 7 at 6 p.m.
- Cost: $10
Mean Girls
Brandeis High School
- Thursday, Nov. 19 at 6 p.m.
- Friday, Nov. 20 at 6 p.m.
- Saturday, Nov. 21 at 2 p.m.
- Cost: $7 for students; $12 for adults
Cinderella
Sotomayor High School
- Thursday, Nov. 19 at 6:30 p.m.
- Friday, Nov. 20 at 6:30 p.m.
- Saturday, Nov. 21 at 1 p.m.
- Cost: $10 for students; $15 for adults
Chicago
Clark High School
- Thursday, Dec. 3 at 7 p.m.
- Friday, Dec. 4 at 7 p.m.
- Saturday, Dec. 5 at 7 p.m.
- Cost: $10 for students; $14 for adults; $20 for reserved seating
Matilda
Harlan High School
- Thursday, Dec. 3 at 7 p.m.
- Friday, Dec. 4 at 7 p.m.
- Saturday, Dec. 5 at 1 p.m.
- Saturday, Dec. 5 at 7 p.m.
- Cost: $10–$20
Mamma Mia
O’Connor High School
- Thursday, Dec. 3 at 7 p.m.
- Friday, Dec. 4 at 7 p.m.
- Saturday, Dec. 5 at 7 p.m.
- Cost: Not provided
Frozen
Taft High School
- Thursday, Dec. 3 at 7 p.m.
- Friday, Dec. 4 at 7 p.m.
- Saturday, Dec. 5 at 7 p.m.
- Sunday, Dec. 6 at 2 p.m.
- Cost: $7 for students; $15 for adults
Hadestown: Teen Edition
Marshall High School
- Wednesday, Jan. 13 at 7 p.m.
- Thursday, Jan. 14 at 7 p.m.
- Friday, Jan. 15 at 7 p.m.
- Cost: $10 for students; $15 for adults
High School Musical
Brennan High School
- Thursday, Jan. 14 at 7 p.m.
- Friday, Jan. 15 at 7 p.m.
- Saturday, Jan. 16 at 2 p.m.
- Cost: $10 for students, senior citizens and military; $15 general admission
The Addams Family
Stevens High School
- Thursday, Jan. 14 at 6 p.m.
- Friday, Jan. 15 at 6 p.m.
- Saturday, Jan. 16 at 6 p.m.
- Cost: $8 for students; $14 for adults
Spring Musical
Harlan High School
- Thursday, April 29 at 7 p.m.
- Friday, April 30 at 7 p.m.
- Saturday, May 1 at 7 p.m.
- Cost: $10–$20
Hadestown
Clark High School
- Thursday, May 6 at 7 p.m.
- Friday, May 7 at 7 p.m.
- Saturday, May 8 at 7 p.m.
- Cost: $10 for students; $14 for adults; $20 for reserved seating
Spring Musical
Holmes High School
- Wednesday, May 12 at 7 p.m.
- Thursday, May 13 at 7 p.m.
- Friday, May 14 at 7 p.m.
- Cost: $10
Warren High School will not present a musical during the 2026–2027 school year.
Fine Arts Spotlight
Northside ISD has earned the Texas Art Education Association’s District of Distinction honor for the seventh consecutive year, placing NISD among the top 1.3 percent of visual arts programs in Texas.
Northside ISD has earned Exemplary status, the highest level of recognition in the Texas Educational Theatre Association’s 2026 Award of Distinction Program.
Four Year Plans
Click on any strand below to view the 4 year course plan and course list.
- Freshman Year: Art I
- Sophomore Year: Art II
- Junior Year: Art III
- Senior Year: Art IV
Additional Visual Arts Courses
- Art III Drawing
- Art III Painting
- Art III Sculpture
- Art III Ceramics
- Art III Digital Art and Media
- Art IV Drawing
- Art IV Painting
- Art IV Sculpture
- Art IV Ceramics
- Art IV Digital Art and Media
- AP Art History
- AP Drawing Portfolio
- AP Art 2-D Portfolio
- AP Art 3-D Portfolio
- Art Appreciation
- Freshman Year: Band I
- Sophomore Year: Band II
- Junior Year: Band III
- Senior Year: Band IV
Additional Band Courses
- Prep Band
- Concert Band
- Symphonic Band
- Jazz Band
- Instrumental Ensemble
- Music Theory
- AP Music Theory
- Freshman Year: Band Flags I
- Sophomore Year: Band Flags II
- Junior Year: Band Flags III
- Senior Year: Band Flags IV
Additional Colorguard Courses
- Flags I–IV
- Freshman Year:
- Choir I Tenor Bass
- Choir I Treble
- Sophomore Year:
- Choir II Tenor Bass
- Choir II Treble
- Choir II Advanced Treble
- Choir II Mixed
- Junior Year:
- Choir III Tenor Bass
- Choir III Treble
- Choir III Advanced Treble
- Choir III Mixed
- Senior Year:
- Choir IV Tenor Bass
- Choir IV Treble
- Choir IV Advanced Treble
- Choir IV Mixed
Additional Choir Courses
- Tenor Bass Choir
- Treble Choir
- Advanced Treble Choir
- Mixed Choir
- Vocal Ensembles
- Music Theory
- AP Music Theory
- Freshman Year: Dance I
- Sophomore Year: Dance II
- Junior Year: Dance III
- Senior Year: Dance IV
Additional Dance Courses
- Principles of Dance
- Ballet
- Modern Dance
- Jazz Dance
- Hip Hop Dance
- Freshman Year: Fine Arts Elective
- Sophomore Year: Fine Arts Elective
- Junior Year: Fine Arts Elective
- Senior Year: Fine Arts Elective
Additional Information
- Please refer to the full course planning guide for details regarding Spirit program pathways and elective options.
- Freshman Year: Orchestra I
- Sophomore Year: Orchestra II
- Junior Year: Orchestra III
- Senior Year: Orchestra IV
Additional Orchestra Courses
- Orchestra Prep
- Orchestra Concert
- Orchestra Symphonic
- Instrumental Ensemble
- Music Theory
- AP Music Theory
- Freshman Year: Mariachi I
- Sophomore Year: Mariachi II
- Junior Year: Mariachi III
- Senior Year: Mariachi IV
Additional Mariachi Courses
- Mariachi Prep
- Mariachi Intermediate
- Mariachi Advanced
- Music Theory
- AP Music Theory
- Freshman Year: Theatre Arts I
- Sophomore Year: Theatre Arts II
- Junior Year: Theatre Arts III
- Senior Year: Theatre Arts IV
Additional Theatre Arts Courses
- Theatre Arts
- Technical Theatre
- Theatre Production
- Musical Theatre