Colbert School
Why it's listed
Colbert School is a one-story red brick school in Colbert, Madison County, Georgia, built in 1924 on an H-plan with Colonial Revival details such as wide eaves, gable returns and arched entrances. A central auditorium sits between an elementary wing and a high school wing, and the interior keeps hardwood floors, beaded board wainscoting, original auditorium seats and transoms. The community paid for it through a local bond issue and public subscription. Additions followed in 1928, 1942, 1955 and 1960, the last two in the International style. A 1940 vocational agriculture building and a gymnasium from about 1948 also contribute. The school served as the only school for white children in Colbert until high schools were consolidated in 1955, and it later became an elementary school until 1981. Its 1942 lunchroom was the first in the county. The property was listed for its architecture and its role in local education. It now houses a Head Start program and a clothing program.
Significance in brief: The school is significant in architecture as a good, intact example of an early 20th century community school in Georgia, with its H-plan, one-story height, large windows and Colonial Revival elements. Its 1955 and 1960 International style additions show how that style was adapted to Georgia school design. It is significant in education as the only school serving white children in Colbert during its historic period.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 01000942, listed September 9, 2001. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Jct. of Fourth St. and First Ave., Colbert |
|---|---|
| County | Madison County |
| Listed | September 9, 2001 |
| Reference number | 01000942 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1924-1960 |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and Early 20th Century Revivals/Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Education |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in educational use; leased to the City of Colbert since 1983 and houses a Head Start program and a clothing program for the needy. |
| Acreage | 2.5 |
| Coordinates | 34.04083, -83.21479 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 01000942.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q134389742
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.