SPRING, TEXAS — Nathan Olivarri was declared valedictorian of Legacy The School for Sport Sciences after a judge ruled in his favor in a dispute over class ranking, allowing him to deliver the valedictory speech at the Spring, Texas school’s 2026 graduation ceremony. Olivarri called himself valedictorian during the event following the court order.
The dispute began in January 2026 when school officials announced that a junior who elected to graduate early had achieved the top class rank. According to legal paperwork from the school, that student had a GPA of 4.6530, while Olivarri’s GPA was 4.4547.
In court filings, the Olivarri family’s lawyer argued that the junior’s decision to graduate early came too late in the academic year for the valedictorian title to be reassigned under the school’s student handbook. The lawyer also contended that the junior’s GPA had been improperly calculated. A judge ultimately agreed with the Olivarri family and ordered that Nathan be named valedictorian and permitted to speak at graduation. "I am thankful to the courthouse for realizing who the true valedictorian is, and I'm thankful for my parents for always supporting me through everything," Nathan Olivarri said.
Legacy The School for Sport Sciences defended its initial decision in a legal response, stating that the junior was not the only student who had chosen to graduate early or alter their class standing. The school asserted that all GPAs were calculated and announced in compliance with state guidelines. An independent investigation, later reviewed by the school’s board, concluded that naming the junior valedictorian was correct. Legacy The School for Sport Sciences said in a statement that its "unwavering focus has always been and will remain on honoring the dedication and hard work of every one of our students." The school’s founder told ABC13 that the legal process is ongoing.
"A lot of this could have been avoided, but it's the past; we're putting it behind us," Nathan's father, Vincent Olivarri, said.