The Gautier Benitez High School, a school named after Puerto Rican poet José Gautier Benítez, was built in 1924 in Caguas, Puerto Rico and is listed on both the U.S.

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...

and the

Puerto Rico Register of Historic Sites and Zones The Puerto Rico Register of Historic Sites and Zones (Spanish language, Spanish: ''Registro Nacional de Sitios y Zonas Históricas'') is a Government of Puerto Rico, Puerto Rican government program adopted by the state Puerto Rico Planning Board, ...

. It is a U-shaped, two-story concrete structure with

Classical Revival Neoclassicism, also spelled Neo-classicism, emerged as a Western cultural movement in the decorative and visual arts, literature, theatre, music, and architecture that drew inspiration from the art and culture of classical antiquity. Neoclassic ...

elements including monumental portico with triangular pediment and use of columns. It was deemed significant for NRHP registration because it was the first high school in its area, and for its architecture. Its neo-classical style reflects Americanization of public education since the 1898 transition of Puerto Rico. It was built in a program along with the

Ponce High School The Ponce High School is public educational institution in Ponce, Puerto Rico, offering grades nine through twelve. The school's main building is a historic structure located on Cristina Street, in the Ponce Historic Zone. From its beginning t ...

in Ponce and the Central High School in San Juan, both also NRHP-listed. with

Notable alumni

* Carlos Manuel Rodríguez Santiago, first Puerto Rican and first Caribbean-born layperson in history to be beatified.

References

School buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in Puerto Rico Neoclassical architecture in Puerto Rico School buildings completed in 1924 1924 establishments in Puerto Rico Caguas, Puerto Rico {{PuertoRico-NRHP-stub