Thomas Jefferson High School
Why it's listed
Thomas Jefferson High School is a large public school complex on a 33-acre site in northwest San Antonio. Built between 1929 and 1932 with a 1929 bond issue and some Work Projects Administration labor, it was designed by Adams & Adams in a Spanish Renaissance manner. Blonde brick and cast-stone ornament drawn from Spanish and Mexican sources cover the buildings, which are arranged around two courtyards. The interior is known for its decorated auditorium, which seats over 2,000, and its stenciled library. The school introduced tile floors, built-in lockers, indoor fire escapes and a separate gymnasium to San Antonio schools. In 1937 a United Press survey of 1,500 high schools named it the most outstanding in America, and Life magazine made it a cover story in 1938. A film studio also shot a movie on the campus. Additions were made in 1963 and 1978, designed to blend with the original, and the school remains in use.
Significance in brief: The school was selected by the United Press in 1937 as the most outstanding high school in America and was featured in Life and National Geographic. It introduced features new to San Antonio schools, including tile floors, built-in lockers, indoor fire escapes and a separate gymnasium. Its elaborate design and decorated interiors, especially the auditorium and library, remain largely intact.
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 83003093, listed September 22, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 723 Donaldson Ave., San Antonio |
|---|---|
| County | Bexar County |
| Listed | September 22, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83003093 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Adams & Adams, Phelps & Simmons |
| Architectural style | Spanish Renaissance |
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in use as a school with about 2,111 students; condition listed as excellent and altered. |
| Acreage | 33 |
| Coordinates | 29.46522, -98.53770 (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 83003093.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14711377
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.