The grounds of the Central College campus were originally built in 1914 to house the South End Junior High School.

[2] The first post-secondary education at the San Jacinto High School facilities began on March 7, 1927, when Houston Junior College (HJC) was formed and occupied the building.

[4] On April 30, 1934, Texas governor Miriam A. Ferguson signed House Bill 194 into law which allowed the Houston Junior College to become a four-year university.

[4] UH initially held classes at the high school building with an enrollment of 682 until they moved to the South Main Baptist church the following semester.

The same year, the formation of the Houston Community College was approved by HISD which would share facilities with the district's schools.