I booked my flight and hotel last night. My team's not going, because they didn't qualify. I'm going myself, just because. As long as your parents authorize it, there is nothing to stop you from going, just don't consider it a "School Trip." How would it be any different (assuming your parents want you to go) from them calling up the school and saying they are taking you on vacation to Houston for a few days? In most districts, the school can't stop you if you parents intervene. Granted, you will loose the "school trip" aspect of it, but you'll still end up in Texas and able to work with your robot, and they really can't penalize you if your parents make it excused (especially if you learn more through FIRST than you would sitting in a classroom for the 3 days
).