Celina Public School
Also known as: Celina High School; Celina ISD Administration
Why it's listed
Built in 1941-42 at 205 South Colorado Street, Celina Public School is a one-story, E-shaped brick building in the WPA Moderne manner. It has a flat roof, a barrel-vaulted gymnasium wing, bark-faced orange-brown brick, and bands of sash windows. Decoration is limited to brick patterning and relief at the east entrance. Dallas architect Hoke Smith designed it with Works Progress Administration funds, after a 1941 federal grant of $67,930 was supplemented by city bonds. The new school replaced earlier buildings, including the 1916 school; the granite cornerstone of the 1915-16 high school was set into the new north wall. Inside, the main hallway, classrooms, wood floors and gymnasium largely survive. Two brick buildings from 1953-54 for music and shop classes and the original flagpole also contribute. Four modular buildings from about 1985 do not. The school was listed for its role in the growth of education in Celina, and it now houses school district offices.
Significance in brief: The school is nominated under Criterion A in the area of Education, at the local level, for its association with the developing educational system and facilities in Celina. It marked the high point of the school district's efforts to reform its schools and increase enrollment. It is also a modest example of WPA Moderne design by an architect who designed many WPA schools across Texas.
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 09000839, listed October 14, 2009. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 205 S. Colorado St., Celina |
|---|---|
| County | Collin County |
| Listed | October 14, 2009 |
| Reference number | 09000839 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1941-1959 |
| Architect / builder | Smith, Hoke; Works Progress Administration |
| Architectural style | Modern Movement: WPA Moderne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Education |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Recently converted to house the administration offices of the Celina Independent School District; the form's function section also lists vacant/not in use. |
| Acreage | 2.5 |
| Coordinates | 33.32461, -96.78882 (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 09000839.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110000095
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.