The campus, built in 1914, initially housed South End Junior High School; it closed in 1926 when the high school opened. It was established in 1926 after
Central High School, which was located near
Downtown Houston, was closed. From 1927 until 1934, the campus was also the first home to Houston Junior College, which eventually became the
University of Houston.
Lamar High School opened in 1937, relieving San Jacinto. In 1962, Houston Technical Institute (HTI) was added to the campus; HTI programs lasted until 1981. In 1966 HISD purchased a former Hebrew temple,
Temple Beth Israel, that it began using as an annex for San Jacinto since its population was increasing. Elaine Clift Gore, the author of
Talent Knows No Color: The History of an Arts Magnet High School, wrote that by fall 1969 San Jacinto's vocational program became "the premier HISD vocational high school". which was originally built in phases between 1914 and 1936. Hidden, original windows were encountered during the demolition and restored/left in place as a design element. Other new elements were introduced including six 5,000-pound beams that have been installed to enable modern, column-free bathrooms, and an elevator tower, and four stair towers added to the rear of the building. In the auditorium, seating, plaster, and flooring were redone as well. The school received a Landmark Award for the renovation. ==Demographics==