Jamaica High School

Public school in New York City

Jamaica High School

Present building completed in 1927

Address

167-01 Gothic Drive

Jamaica, Queens

New York

United States

Coordinates| 40°42′52″N 73°47′54″W﻿ / ﻿40.7145°N 73.7982°W﻿ / 40.7145; -73.7982
Information
Type| Public
Established| 1892
Status| Open
Grades| 9–12
Color(s)| Red & Blue
Mascot| Beavers

Jamaica High School was a four-year public high school in Jamaica, Queens, New York. It was operated by the New York City Department of Education.

Jamaica High School was founded as the Union Free School in 1854, and located within a three-story wooden structure on what is now 161st Street. In 1897, it moved to a new campus located on Hillside Avenue and designed in the Dutch Revival style. By 1922, the school was considered overcrowded, and two annexes were built. Jamaica High School moved to its third campus, located in Jamaica Hills at the corner of 167th Street and Gothic Drive, in 1929. Due to high rates of crime and poor academic performance, the school closed permanently in 2014.

Jamaica High School's former campuses at Hillside Avenue and at 167th Street are landmarks designated by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. The Hillside Avenue campus was administered by the New York City Board of Education after Jamaica High School had moved out, and was used by several schools. The 167th Street campus also remains open and is now officially known as the Jamaica Educational Campus. It houses four smaller separately-administered public high schools that share facilities and sports teams.

## Description

[edit]

### Original building

[edit]

Former building on Hillside Ave., completed 1897

The first permanent location of Jamaica High School, opened in 1897, is located at 162-02 Hillside Avenue, on the south side of Hillside Avenue between 162nd and 163rd Streets, near Jamaica Center.[1] The building was designed by William Tubby, a well-known Brooklyn architect, in the Dutch Revival style.[2][1][3] The Dutch Revival style was chosen as a nod to the roots of Jamaica and all of New York City as Dutch colonies.[1]

It is a three-story structure with a raised basement, constructed of red and tan brick; the tan bricks have since darkened from their original shade.[1] The school features several decorative design elements, including splayed lintels, a stepped gable at top of the right (west) side of the front facade with arched windows, and a hipped roof.[1] At both the east and west ends of the building are two enclosed stairwells, installed in 1904.[1] The building originally featured a bell tower, which has since been removed.[1] A parking lot is located at the rear of the school.[1] The building was designated as a New York City landmark in 2013.[1]

### Current building

[edit]

The present building with its generous lawn

The athletic field to the rear (north) of the school

The current Jamaica High School campus opened in 1927,[2] and is located on a large tract between 168th Street to the east and Chapin Partway to the west in the Jamaica Hills section of Jamaica, across from Captain Tilly Park.[4] The school faces towards Gothic Drive at the south end of the campus. 84th Avenue marks the north end of the site, one block south of the Grand Central Parkway.[2][5][6] The property is 13 acres (5.3 ha) in size.[7][8] This large expansive campus is unconventional for a New York City school.[2] Across 84th Avenue is Thomas A. Edison High School, a vocational school. Across to the south and west is Captain Tilly Park.[2][5][6] The campus occupies a hilltop location with commanding views on Gothic Drive.[9] When the building first opened, views were available across to the bodies of water surrounding Long Island: the Long Island Sound, East River, and Atlantic Ocean.[10] A large lawn separates the school building from Gothic Drive, with a stone stairway and pathway leading up from the street to the school.[2][11][12] An iron fence encircles the entire property.[2]

The building stands three stories high with a basement, extending horizontally 400 feet (120 m) east-to-west over the large property.[2][11] It occupies 625,000 square feet of space.[2][13] The school features an auditorium, swimming pool, and two gymnasiums.[2][13][11] It also contains numerous science labs and demonstration rooms, computer labs, a library, and a cafeteria.[11][14] The auditorium was designed to seat 1,500 with a balcony for 200.[11] An organ was installed in the auditorium in 1931 by Estey Organ, identical to six others installed in other New York City high schools. The organ is no longer operational.[15] The gyms are located on the second and third floors, intended for boys and girls respectively.[11] The swimming pool, located in the basement below the gyms meets short course competition regulations, measuring 28 feet by 75 feet.[11] The cafeteria is also at basement level.[11] Today certain spaces such as the gyms and auditorium are shared between the current small schools.[14] The building was designed with a 3,388 student capacity, although the school's enrollment has been higher than that number in the past.[2] The building currently has a "target capacity" of 2,116 students set by the Department of Education.[14]

The building was designed by William H. Gompert in the Georgian Revival style,[2] occasionally referred to as "colonial" style during its construction.[8][11] It forms a symmetrical "E" or "W" shape.[2][11][16][17] This layout features two outer wings holding 83 classrooms, and a central wing which houses the building's auditorium, gymnasiums, and swimming pool. The wings have an axial arrangement, meeting in the center at the entrance hall and extending northward 200 feet (61 m) towards the rear of the school.[2] The central wing extends farther than the east and west wings; this projection houses the gyms and pool.[2][18] The design was intended to maximize the circulation of light and air into the building.[11] This layout would be utilized in future high schools in the city,[19][20] beginning with Samuel J. Tilden High School and Abraham Lincoln High School both in Brooklyn.[19]

The outer facade consists primarily of red brick, trimmed by stone and terracotta.[2][11] The first story facade is entirely limestone.[11] The entrance pavilion is characterized by granite Ionic columns, atop which sits a triangular pediment with a clock in the center. Between the pediment and columns is a terracotta cornice inscribed with the name "Jamaica High School".[2] Above the roof of the entrance is a cupola[2] which may have originally functioned as a bell tower.[11] The roof of the school is copper, but has developed a green patina due to oxidation.[2] Inside the building is a mural of the history of Long Island, installed in 1930.[2][21][22]

The northern half of the property is occupied by the large athletic complex.[2][11][6][12][23] Its main feature is a multi-purpose field for football, baseball, softball and other sports, circumscribed by a running track. At the southeast corner of the complex are tennis courts. The field is artificial turf, with dirt cutouts and mounds for baseball and softball.[2][11][23] It also contains a brick field house.[2][23] The entire field was renovated under the "Take the Field" initiative in the early 2000s.[24] A concrete grandstand for spectators was originally planned but never constructed. It is now an open sloped grass lawn between the field and school.[11][16]

There are three primary entrances to the building: the main entrance hall, with three doors below the ionic columns, and doors to the east and west wings.[2][11] A 12-foot (3.7 m) wide pathway runs east-to-west connecting with the entrances, and leading to gates in the fence at 168th Street and Chapin Parkway.[12][25] The central pathway from the school to Gothic Drive splits in two separate stairways before intersecting with the street, forming a crescent shape.[12][26][27] The pathways were installed shortly after the school opened.[12][27] In front of the school where the stairway splits is a memorial to the Jamaica High School alumni who fought in World War II. It was designed by sculptor Paul Fjelde, and installed in 1948. The memorial is bronze, but has been oxidized green.[2][28] Prior to the war, a different sculpture and/or fountain had been in its place, installed along with the pathways.[5][12][27] The school building was designated as a New York City landmark in 2009.[2]

#### Transportation

[edit]

The Q65 bus route runs north-to-south along 164th Street just west of the school.[6][29] The closest New York City Subway station is the 169th Street station of the IND Queens Boulevard Line on Hillside Avenue. The Q65 connects with the Parsons Boulevard station of the Queens Boulevard Line, as well as the Sutphin Boulevard–Archer Avenue–JFK Airport and Jamaica Long Island Rail Road stations farther south on Archer Avenue.[6][29]

## Etymology

[edit]

The name Jamaica is derived from the Lenape word Yameco meaning "beaver".[2][9][21] Because of this, Jamaica High School's mascot is the beaver.[9][21]

## History

[edit]

The topography of Long Island including that of the Jamaica neighborhood was formed during glaciation, which created a terminal moraine running east-to-west across the center of the island. The Jamaica Hills neighborhood and the current Jamaica High School building lie at the peak of the moraine, while Hillside Avenue where the old building is situated forms the southern edge of the moraine, and thus is at a much lower elevation.[21]

### Early years

[edit]

What is now Jamaica High School was founded as the Union Free School[7] or Public School No. 1,[5] located on Herriman Avenue (now 161st Street).[2][1][5][7][30] This building was constructed in 1854 and opened on July 12 of that year, accommodating students aged 5 to 18.[2][1][5] The school was a three-story wooden structure.[5][31] On December 14, 1892, a charter was granted for the high school by the New York Board of Regents.[5] At this time, the school was declared to be a "Union School" by the Board of Regents, due to its status as both a grammar and high school.[1][9][13] High school classes were conducted on the third, top-most floor of the building.[2][1]

In June 1894, an appropriation of $100,000 was made to build a new school building to replace the Herriman Avenue location.[3] In 1895, the Jamaica Board of Education purchased the lot on Hillside Avenue in order to construct the new school.[1] It was originally intended as a combined high school and "grammar school" (secondary school) known as P.S. 47, although it was predicted that increasing enrollment would force the use of the building exclusively for high school students.[1][3][32] Ground broke at the Hillside Avenue site on May 20, 1895.[1][3][33] The cornerstone for the new building was laid on October 22, 1895.[30] It was dedicated on November 27, 1896.[32] After construction delays,[1] Jamaica High School opened in its new building in January 1897.[1] The new building was considered more stylish and elaborate than the structure it succeeded.[1]

At the time of its opening, the school was administered by the Board of Education of the independent Town of Jamaica. The school's enrollment grew rapidly along with the population of Jamaica, which became part of New York City in 1898, at which time the school came under the jurisdiction of the New York City Board of Education.[1] Until the turn of the century, both Jamaica High School locations were racially segregated, barring African American students from attending. In March 1900, the New York State Legislature passed a bill barring segregation within New York state schools, later signed into law by Governor Theodore Roosevelt.[1][5] In 1904, due to new city fire codes, the staircases at the sides of the building were installed.[1] In 1909, primary school classes were moved to a separate location.[1] By 1922, the school was considered overcrowded. In September of that year, an annex was opened at the former P.S. 50.[8] A second annex was opened in 1923 in a garage across Hillside Avenue.[8][34] A third annex was created in P.S. 109 in February 1926.[8]

Following the relocation of the high school to Jamaica Hills, the Board of Education retained control of the older building and put it to various uses over the years. It housed the Jamaica Learning Center, an alternative public high school, at the time of its designation as a New York City landmark in 2013.[1]

### New building

[edit]

The cornerstone of the current building

The site of the current Jamaica High School building was originally part of the Clark estate.[5] In the 1920s it was clear that a new, larger building for Jamaica High School would be necessary.[2] There was, however, intense community debate over which site in the area should be selected for the new school.[2][8][34][35] Among the sites considered were at Grove Street (now 90th Avenue) and Sutphin Boulevard near the Jamaica Long Island Rail Road station; at Wexford Terrace (87th Drive) just north of Hillside Avenue, known as the "Gracy site"; at Harvard Avenue (179th Place) and Hillside Avenue near Jamaica Estates, called the "Betts" site; and the Clark estate at Grove Street (168th Street), known as the "Clark site".[34][35][36][37] In June 1923, the New York City Board of Estimate approved the Clark site, in spite of protests from local parents.[38] By 1924, a preliminary design for the school was in place, created with the Clark estate site in mind.[2][12] The Clark site was officially chosen 1925.[2] Because of the topography of the area, it was decided to build the school facing south towards Gothic Drive, as opposed to facing 168th Street.[12] Meanwhile, the height of the school was limited to three stories by architect William H. Gompert due to the profile of the site.[18] Groundbreaking on the new building took place on March 16, 1925.[5][8] One week later, an architectural drawing of the school was released.[39] Excavation of the site's basement and swimming pool began in April of that year. Upon exhuming the site, it was discovered that the bed of the future building consisted of clay, similar to that of Goose Pond in nearby Captain Tilly Park.[10] The cornerstone was laid at the southeast corner of the building on June 29, 1925.[5][8][40]

The World War II memorial facing Gothic Drive in front of the school.

By that year, accusations were already made towards Gompert of faulty construction and inferior material use at the new high school and other new schools under his watch.[41][42] The new Jamaica High School building was opened February 1, 1927.[43] It was officially dedicated May 12, 1927.[7][8] The school cost $3 million to construct.[7][25] At the time of construction, the school building was the largest in the United States.[13][31]

A resolution to create park space around the school was reached on April 30, 1928.[44] Around this time, the property immediately behind the school was acquired in order to create the athletic fields.[2] Meanwhile, accusations of faulty construction persisted, evidenced by warping of school floors due to water damage. This and other accusations of shoddy craftsmanship led to Gompert's resignation from the Board of Education.[45] Upon opening, the only available entrances to the school were at either side. Immediately in front of the school was a large wall of dirt, while six houses were situated along the north side of Gothic Drive; both obstacles impeded access to the school from the south at Gothic Drive and blocked views of its facade. A road provisionally named "Upland Parkway" had initially been planned directly in front of the school, but was not built. The lack of access lead to complaints from students.[25][46][12][27] In May 1929, the homes in front of the school were acquired and razed to create the large lawn areas and entrance in front of the school.[2]

In January 1930, the plans for the athletic complex were doubled in size, extending all the way to the Grand Central Parkway on what is now Thomas A. Edison High School. In addition to the current facilities, it would have included a field hockey court, and a large area fronting the parkway for either a polo field or 24 public tennis courts.[16] In August 1931, the design for the new approach from the school to Gothic Drive was revealed.[12][26] This included fountains at the site of the current World War II memorial.[12][26][27] The athletic complex was first used on April 22, 1932, in a baseball game against John Adams High School.[47] The field was dedicated on May 10, 1932, prior to a playoff baseball game between Jamaica and Richmond Hill High School. Temporary seating was erected for the event, with Mayor Jimmy Walker and Queens Borough President George U. Harvey in attendance.[48] The first football game was played on October 1, 1932.[49] The new approaches to the school were completed in 1933.[27]

On November 10, 1948, the World War II memorial at the front of the school was dedicated. It cost $4,500.[28] In its heyday in 1950, Jamaica High School's enrollment of 4,613 students was the largest in all of Queens.[2][9][13] The school was known for its academic prowess and rigid academic standards.[9] It was also known for its racially and demographically integrated student body, especially as surrounding Queens neighborhoods became more diverse into the 1980s.[9] Jamaica High School was named the best secondary school in the United States in 1985 by the United States Department of Education, while having the third-lowest dropout rate in New York City. It was also one of 19 high schools in the country to receive a Carnegie grant that year.[9][13] The Gateway to Higher Education was founded by New York City in September 1986, establishing a program within Jamaica High School.[50]

### Decline and closure

[edit]

On November 5, 1986, a student was shot in the school's auditorium.[9][51] The shooting foreshadowed the emergence of problems within Jamaica High School that had already plagued other schools in the city.[9] While the school's academic reputation had declined compared to the previous decade, even in 1998 Jamaica High School had an on-time graduation rate of over 75 percent.[9] However, graduation rates as well as enrollment declined rapidly into the 2000s.[9][31] Crime and safety issues also began to afflict the school.[14][52] In August 2007, Jamaica High School was added to New York State Education Department's list of "persistently dangerous" schools,[53] after a 50 percent increase in violent crime through January of that year.[54] It had already been labeled a "priority" school and later an "impact" school by the New York City government.[54] In response, regular metal detector screenings were instituted, along with increased NYPD police presence, and a zero-tolerance discipline policy.[55][56] In late 2007, it was discovered that an assistant principal prevented school deans from calling 911 in an emergency in order to lower the school's crime and disturbance incidence. A similar memo was later issued requiring several preliminary steps before calling 911. The assistant principal and the school principal were later reassigned.[57][58] Under the provisions of the No Child Left Behind Act, students were allowed to transfer from the school, which may have led to a decrease in enrollment. This in turn led to teacher layoffs and a decrease in funding.[59]

In August 2008, Jamaica High School was removed from the "persistently dangerous" list.[14] In 2009, the current building earned designation as a New York City landmark, with a ceremony held June 17.[2][22] However, that year the New York City Department of Education made plans to close the school, citing a graduation rate that "has stagnated below 50% for years," low performance grades, low attendance rates, decreasing enrollment, and safety issues.[14][9] This decision was challenged in court,[60] and protested by the local community and alumni.[9] In Fall 2010, co-located small high schools began operating within the building.[14][61] By 2011 the Board of Education began to phase out Jamaica High School, no longer accepting new students.[14][9] During this time resources such as new textbooks were at a premium, while the school ceased offering advanced courses. The Department of Education was accused of starving the school of funds and resources, while giving preference to the new co-located schools. This included backlash from state senator Tony Avella.[9][62] Jamaica High School closed permanently in June 2014, graduating its final class of only 24 students.[9][63][64] The building, now officially the Jamaica Educational Campus, remains in use and houses smaller public high schools that share facilities and sports teams.[65]

### Current schools

[edit]

As of 2010, four schools, each with a separate faculty and admissions procedures, share the Jamaica Educational Campus. They are:

School name | Enrollment | Theme

|
|

Jamaica Gateway to the Sciences | 396 | Math & science[66]
Queens Collegiate: A College Board School | 647 | College preparatory[67]
Hillside Arts and Letters Academy | 420 | Art & music[68]
High School for Community Leadership | 357 | Community involvement[69]

## Achievements

[edit]

From 1982 until 1988, Jamaica High School had the only post-WWII high school lacrosse team among Public Schools Athletic League (PSAL) schools.[70] Jamaica High School also held an annual boat race in their pool, where students demonstrated their knowledge of laws of physics and art skills.[71] Following the renovation of its athletic field around 2003, Jamaica High School fielded a football team for the first time in around 50 years.[24]

Principals for a Day included actors Ed Lover and Steve Harvey, and Gold medal Olympic winner and graduate of Jamaica High School, Bob Beamon.[72] New York City Schools Chancellor Frank Macchiarola also served as an interim principal in late 1981.[9][73][74]

## Notable alumni

[edit]

* Phyllis Graber; while at Jamaica High School she became the first officially sanctioned female member of a formerly all-male high school varsity tennis team in New York City[75][76][77]
* Danny Garcia '72 (1954-), MLB Baseball player, 1981 KC Royals
* Marilyn Aschner (born 1948), professional tennis player
* Obba Babatundé '69, (1951–), motion picture actor, television actor Dawson's Creek, appeared on Broadway in Dreamgirls[78][79]
* Bob Beamon '65, Olympic athlete and world record holder in the long jump for 23 years[80]
* Laurie Bird '53, film actress and photographer[81]
* Anna Blackburne-Rigsby '79 (1961-), Chief Judge of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals
* Marcie Blane '59, (1944–), pop singer
* Ato Boldon '91 (transferred out), Olympic athlete
* Paul Bowles '28, (1910–1999), author and composer[79]
* Art Buchwald '43, Pulitzer Prize-winning humorist and cartoonist[79]
* John Carisi '38, (1922–1992), jazz trumpeter, composer and arranger[82]
* Bill Chadwick, '33 (1915–2009) National Hockey League referee and Hall of Famer[83]
* The Cleftones: Charlie James (McGhee) '55; William McClane '55; Herb Cox '55; Berman Patterson '55; and Warren Corbin '55 (deceased)[79][84]
* William Jelani Cobb '87, author[85]
* Eileen Cole '62, International award-winning artist[79]
* Francis Ford Coppola, (1939–), film director[31]
* Whitfield Diffie '61, cryptographer and one of the pioneers of public-key cryptography[86]
* Julie Dash '68, film director[87]
* Ann Druyan '66, Emmy Award-winning and Peabody Award-winning television writer and producer, Creative Director of NASA's Voyager Interstellar Message Project
* Alan Dugan '41, (1923–2003), Pulitzer Prize-winning poet
* Frank Eck (1911–1987), AP Newsfeatures Sports Editor[88]
* Gertrude B. Elion '33, (1918–1999). Nobel Prize winner, 1988 Physiology/Medicine.[89]
* Ashrita Furman, (1954–) set more than 160 official Guinness World Records [90]
* Douglas Gerstein '59, Clinical professor of ophthalmology at UC San Francisco[79]
* Stephen Jay Gould '58, (1941–2002), paleontologist, geologist, historian of science
* Laura Z. Hobson '17, (1900–1986), author[79]
* Young Kwok "Corky" Lee '65, (1947-2021), journalistic photographer
* Sheila Jackson-Lee '68, (1950–2024) represents Texas's 18th congressional district[91]
* Samuel Leibowitz 1911, (1893–1978) attorney for the Scottsboro Boys
* Gerald S. Lesser (1926–2010), psychologist who played a major role in developing the educational programming included in Sesame Street[92]
* Herbert London '56, candidate for New York mayor and governor[93]
* Irving Malin '50, (c. 1934–2014) critic of postmodern fiction, editor, and anthologist[94]
* John N. Mitchell '31, (1913–1988) Attorney General of the United States[95]
* Fred Neulander '59, (1941–), Reform rabbi, convicted of murder
* Stuart A. Newman '61, Evolutionary developmental biologist
* Walter O'Malley '20 (1903–1979), owner of the Brooklyn and L.A. Dodgers.[79][96]
* Letty Cottin Pogrebin, writer and journalist[84]
* Sabor Latino, hip hop artist[97]
* Michael Savage '58, author of health and nutrition books, radio talk show host[79]
* Gunther Schuller '43, Pulitzer Prize-winning composer, author, and conductor[79]
* Al Seiden '55, All-American basketball player at St. John's[98]
* Bobby Susser '60, award-winning children's songwriter[79]
* George Vecsey '56, sportswriter for The New York Times[79][84]
* Charles Ruas '56, scholar, translator, critic, broadcaster, author [99]
* Joseph von Sternberg, (1894–1969) filmmaker (dropped out)[100]
* Melvyn Weiss (1935-2018), attorney who co-founded the plaintiff class action law firm Milberg Weiss.[101]
* Dolores Wilson, (1928–2010) opera singer and musical theatre actress[102]
* Lester Wilson '59, (1942–1993) choreographer
* Alfred F. Young '41 (1925-2012), historian of the American Revolution[103]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x Kurshan, Virginia. "Designation Report: Jamaica High School (Now Jamaica Learning Center)" (PDF). New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. Retrieved December 30, 2014.
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al Kurshan, Virginia (March 24, 2009). "Jamaica High School" (PDF). Landmarks Preservation Commission. City of New York. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 2, 2010. Retrieved April 2, 2009.
3. ^ a b c d "Long Island Notes". Brooklyn Daily Eagle. May 21, 1895. p. 7. Retrieved July 17, 2017 - via Newspapers.com. "Work was begun yesterday on the new Jamaica high school"
4. ^ Kadinsky, Sergey (2016). Hidden Waters of New York City: A History and Guide to 101 Forgotten Lakes, Ponds, Creeks, and Streams in the Five Boroughs. New York, NY: Countryman Press. pp. 136–137. ISBN 978-1-58157-566-8.
5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Carl Ballenas (2011). Jamaica. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7385-7426-4.
6. ^ a b c d e "MTA Neighborhood Maps: neighborhood". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. 2018. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
7. ^ a b c d e "$3,000,000 SCHOOL OPENED AT JAMAICA; Dr. Ferguson, at Ceremonies, Announces Board Is Erecting 27 Other Buildings. FLAG PRESENTED BY LEGION Pastor, Priest and Rabbi Among the Speakers -- New Structure Has 13-Acre Campus". The New York Times. May 13, 1927. Retrieved July 17, 2017.
8. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Jamaica High School Dedicatred". Long Island Daily Press. May 12, 1927. p. 13. Retrieved July 18, 2017 - via Fultonhistory.com.
9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Cobb, Jelani (August 31, 2015). "Class Notes: What's really at stake when a school closes?". The New Yorker. Retrieved July 17, 2017.
10. ^ a b "Steam Shovels Begin Activity of the Jamaica High School Construction on Fine Site". Long Island Daily Press. Fultonhistory.com. April 23, 1925. p. 2. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Riley, Royal R. R. (January 6, 1927). "New Jamaica High School Building to Be Ready for Pupils February". Long Island Daily Press. Fultonhistory.com. p. 8. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Jamaica High School's New Scenic Approach: Jamaica High School Vista To Include Fountains and Statuary, Officials Report". Long Island Daily Press. Fultonhistory.com. August 8, 1931. p. 1. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
13. ^ a b c d e f Martinez, Gina (November 11, 2015). "Jamaica High: once America's largest: The celebrated school was phased out after more than 100 years". Queens Chronicle. Retrieved July 17, 2017.
14. ^ a b c d e f g h "AMENDED EDUCATIONAL IMPACT STATEMENT: The Proposed Phase-out of Jamaica High School (28Q470)" (PDF). New York City Department of Education. January 19, 2011. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
15. ^ "Jamaica High School". American Guild of Organists. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
16. ^ a b c "Urge Doubling Size of Stadium Planned for Jamaica High School". Long Island Daily Press. January 21, 1930. p. 3. Retrieved July 18, 2017 - via Fultonhistory.com.
17. ^ "NYC Department of Education Building Condition Assessment Survey 2015-2016: Jamaica High School" (PDF). New York City Department of Education. May 26, 2016. Retrieved August 14, 2017.
18. ^ a b "Jamaica to Have New High School for 3,500 Pupils". Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Newspapers.com. November 2, 1923. p. 29. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
19. ^ a b Architecture and Building: A Journal of Investment and Construction. W.T. Comstock Company. 1932. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
20. ^ Kurgan, Laura (November 2005). "From Large School Buildings to Small School Campuses: Orchestrating the Shift" (PDF). New Visions for Public Schools. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
21. ^ a b c d Kadinsky, Sergey (2016). Hidden Waters of New York City: A History and Guide to 101 Forgotten Lakes, Ponds, Creeks, and Streams in the Five Boroughs. New York, NY: Countryman Press. ISBN 978-1-58157-566-8.
22. ^ a b Harris, Bob (July 17, 2009). "The Civic Scene: Jamaica High School receives landmark status from city". TimesLedger. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
23. ^ a b c "NYC Department of Education Building Condition Assessment Survey 2015-2016: Jamaica High School Athletic Field" (PDF). New York City Department of Education. May 26, 2016. Retrieved August 14, 2017.
24. ^ a b Sandomir, Richard (November 3, 2003). "High School Sports; If You Rebuild It, They Can Play". The New York Times. Retrieved July 17, 2017.
25. ^ a b c "Discrimination Hinted In Building of New Jamaica High School: Beautiful Approaches of Other Edifices, Pointed Out". Long Island Daily Press. February 20, 1928. p. 1. Retrieved July 18, 2017 - via Fultonhistory.com.
26. ^ a b c "Jamaica High School's New Scenic Approach: Jamaica High School Vista To Include Fountains and Statuary, Officials Report" (PDF). Long Island Daily Press. Fultonhistory.com. August 8, 1931. p. 2. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
27. ^ a b c d e f "New Approach to High School Ready by June". Long Island Daily Press. February 12, 1933. p. 4. Retrieved July 18, 2017 - via Fultonhistory.com.
28. ^ a b "School Dedicates War Memorial". The New York Times. November 11, 1948. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
29. ^ a b "Queens Bus Map" (PDF). Metropolitan Transportation Authority. August 2022. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
30. ^ a b "Latest Long Island News; Corner Stone of Jamaica's New High School Laid". Brooklyn Daily Eagle. October 22, 1895. p. 7. Retrieved July 17, 2017 - via Newspapers.com.
31. ^ a b c d Kern-Jedrychowska, Ewa (July 9, 2014). "TIMELINE: Jamaica High School's Highs and Lows Over the Past Century". DNAinfo.com. Queens, New York. Archived from the original on November 13, 2017. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
32. ^ a b "Jamaica's High School: Dedicated Yesterday With Appropriate Ceremonies, Addresses and Singing". Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Jamaica, Queens, New York, New York. November 28, 1896. p. 5. Retrieved July 17, 2017 - via Newspapers.com.
33. ^ "Work on Jamaica's High School". Brooklyn Daily Eagle. May 26, 1895. p. 8. Retrieved July 17, 2017 - via Newspapers.com.
34. ^ a b c "Queens Men See Wisdom In Use of Garage Annex; No Site Too Good For High School is Marvin Idea". Long Island Daily Press. January 8, 1924. p. 1. Retrieved July 18, 2017 - via Fultonhistory.com.
35. ^ a b "New High School Site Letters Pouring in From All Parts of District". Long Island Daily Farmer. Fultonhistory.com. February 21, 1922. p. 1. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
36. ^ "High School Location is Referred Back to Board of Education". Long Island Daily Press. Fultonhistory.com. March 21, 1922. p. 1. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
37. ^ "Reject Jamaica High School Site After Lively Row". Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Newspapers.com. March 20, 1922. p. 2. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
38. ^ "Board of Estimate Approves "Clarke" Site for Jamaica High". Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Newspapers.com. June 5, 1923. p. 29. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
39. ^ "Architect's Drawing of New Jamaica High School For Which Ground Was Broken by Officials Last Week". Brooklyn Daily Star. Fultonhistory.com. March 23, 1925. p. 4. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
40. ^ "Hylan-Connolly Laud Each Other at Stone-Laying: New Jamaica High School to Be One of Finest Buildings of Kind in Borough". Brooklyn Daily Star. Fultonhistory.com. June 30, 1925. p. 2. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
41. ^ "Ryan Refutes Waterman Charges That Shoddy Materials Entered Into Construction of Schools". Brooklyn Daily Star. Fultonhistory.com. October 29, 1925. p. 6. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
42. ^ "New Jamaica High School Poorly Planned, Expert Charges". Brooklyn Daily Eagle. January 9, 1926. p. 3. Retrieved July 18, 2017 - via Fultonhistory.com.
43. ^ "8,000 Sittings Ready To-day: Three Elementary Schools Accommodate 4,900-Jamaica High Seats 3,300". The Sun (New York). Fultonhistory.com. February 1, 1927. p. 24. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
44. ^ "Ask Park for Jamaica High School". The New York Times. March 1, 1928. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
45. ^ "Floor Defects in New Schools Add to Scandal". Brooklyn Daily Eagle. January 6, 1928. p. 24. Retrieved July 18, 2017 - via Fultonhistory.com.
46. ^ "Narrow Dirt Lane Only Approach to Big Jamaica H.S." Brooklyn Daily Eagle. January 4, 1928. p. 7. Retrieved July 18, 2017 - via Fultonhistory.com.
47. ^ "Hilltops Officially Open New Athletic Field Today". Long Island Daily Press. April 22, 1932. p. 22. Retrieved July 18, 2017 - via Fultonhistory.com.
48. ^ "City Leaders To Dedicate Sport Field: Gala Ceremonies to Mark Official Opening of Hilltop Field". Long Island Daily Press. May 8, 1932. p. 14. Retrieved July 18, 2017 - via Fultonhistory.com.
49. ^ "Jamaica High School Gridders Ready for Opener Today". Long Island Daily Press. October 1, 1932. p. 8. Retrieved July 18, 2017 - via Fultonhistory.com.
50. ^ "Gateway Institute for Pre-College Education: 2001 Annual Report" (PDF). Gateway to Higher Education (program). 2001. Retrieved August 14, 2017.
51. ^ Fried, Joseph P. (November 6, 1986). "Student Shot in Dispute at Auditorium". The New York Times. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
52. ^ Morton, Michael (March 10, 2005). "Jamaica High dean says city schools remain unsafe". TimesLedger. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
53. ^ Medina, Jennifer (August 22, 2007). "State Names 17 More 'Persistently Dangerous' Schools". The New York Times. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
54. ^ a b "Mayor Bloomberg Announces Latest Steps In Impact Schools Safety Initiative: Two Schools to be Transitioned Out of Impact Status, Two Schools to be Added" (Press release). Office of the Mayor of New York City. February 14, 2007. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
55. ^ Mukherjee, Elora; Karpatkin Fellow, Marvin M. (March 2007). "Criminalizing the Classroom: The Over-Policing of New York City Schools" (PDF). New York Civil Liberties Union, American Civil Liberties Union. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
56. ^ Hirshon, Nicholas (February 21, 2007). "School crime crackdown". New York Daily News. Retrieved July 19, 2017.
57. ^ Gootman, Elissa (September 20, 2007). "Undercount of Violence in Schools". The New York Times. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
58. ^ Einhorn, Erin; Melago, Carrie (October 15, 2007). "Queens high school staff told to forget 911 in emergency". New York Daily News. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
59. ^ Melago, Carrie (April 14, 2008). "Teachers fear 'dangerous' Jamaica High School may be next on shutdown list". New York Daily News. Retrieved July 19, 2017.
60. ^ Trapasso, Clare; Monahan, Rachel (December 3, 2009). "Jamaica High School to close doors, ending its rich history in Queens". Daily News. New York. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
61. ^ Trapasso, Clare (February 1, 2010). "Four schools with speciality curriculums chosen to replace three Queens schools being phased out". New York Daily News. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
62. ^ Pereira, Ivan (December 8, 2011). "Avella blasts city over resources at Jamaica High". TimesLedger. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
63. ^ Chan, Melissa (June 27, 2014). "Students bid farewell to Jamaica High School at last graduation ceremony". New York Daily News. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
64. ^ Forrestal, Kathy (July 3, 2014). "Farewell to Jamaica HS, as its last class graduates". Queens Chronicle. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
65. ^ "Jamaica High School". InsideSchools.org.
66. ^ "Jamaica Gateway to the Sciences". InsideSchools.org. Retrieved December 30, 2014.
67. ^ "Queens Collegiate". InsideSchools.org.
68. ^ "Hillside Arts and Letters Academy". InsideSchools.org. Retrieved December 30, 2014.
69. ^ "High School for Community Leadership". Inside Schools. Retrieved December 30, 2014.
70. ^ Harvin, Al (June 17, 1988). "SCHOOL SPORTS; LACROSSE A BIG HIT IN QUEENS". The New York Times. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
71. ^ Chan, Melissa (April 23, 2013). "Dozens compete in Jamaica High School cardboard boat race". Queens Courier. Retrieved July 19, 2017.
72. ^ "Jamaica High School, Q470, Borough of Queens , Zip Code 11432". schools.nyc.gov. Archived from the original on September 30, 2008.
73. ^ Maeroff, Gene I. (November 18, 1981). "CHANCELLOR TO RUN SCHOOL FOR FIRSTHAND VIEW". The New York Times. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
74. ^ Maeroff, Gene I. (November 22, 1981). "JAMAICA HIGH, WITH PRIDE, AWAITING MACCHIAROLA". The New York Times. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
75. ^ The Women's Book of World Records and Achievements. pg. 583. United States, Anchor Press/Doubleday, 1979.
76. ^ Bellafante, Ginia (September 1, 2023). "The Forgotten Teenage Trailblazer of Women's Tennis". The New York Times - via NYTimes.com.
77. ^ "Dr. Mary Meade, 88; Was on School Board". The New York Times. August 28, 1987 - via NYTimes.com.
78. ^ "Folio '69 "Donald A. Cohen" (Jamaica High School, Jamaica, New York)". Ancestry.com. Generations Network. 1969. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
79. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l JAMAICA HIGH SCHOOL NOTEWORTHY ALUMNI. Accessed December 29, 2014.
80. ^ Williams, Lena. "TRACK AND FIELD; Soothing an Old Ache", The New York Times, January 1, 2000. Accessed November 7, 2007. "As a student at Jamaica High School, Beamon came under the tutelage of Larry Ellis, the renowned track coach, and was named to the all-American track and field team as well as the all-city squad."
81. ^ Compo, Susan A. (August 1, 2009). Warren Oates: A Wild Life. University Press of Kentucky. p. 209\. ISBN 978-0-8131-3918-0.
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85. ^ "Noteworthy graduates: Jelani Cobb, professor and journalist". United Federation of Teachers. November 6, 2014.
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96. ^ "Walter F. O'Malley, Leader of Dodgers' Move to Los Angeles, Dies at 75; Unqualified Success", The New York Times, August 10, 1979. "The son of a commissioner of markets, he attended Jamaica High School in Queens and Culver Military Academy on Indiana, where he played on the baseball team until a broken nose finished his playing career."
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## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jamaica High School.

* "Jamaica High School". Archived from the original on March 23, 2010.
* www.insideschools.org

* v
* t
* e

Jamaica

Queens, New York City

Green spaces|

* Captain Tilly Park
* Foch Sitting Area
* Proctor-Hopson Circle
* Prospect Cemetery
* Roy Wilkins Park
* Springfield Park

Education|

* Al-Iman School
* Archbishop Molloy High School
* August Martin High School
* Children's Library Discovery Center
* Dominican Commercial High School
* Hillcrest High School
* Jamaica High School
* The Mary Louis Academy
* Queens Gateway to Health Sciences Secondary School
* Queens High School for the Sciences
* Thomas A. Edison High School
* York College
* The Young Women's Leadership School of Queens

Religion|

* First Presbyterian Church in Jamaica
* First Reformed Church
* Grace Episcopal Church Complex
* Greater Allen A. M. E. Cathedral of New York
* Jamaica First German Presbyterian Church
* Masjid Al-Mamoor
* St. Monica's Church

Culture|

* Afrikan Poetry Theatre
* Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning

Other buildings/
structures|

* 85-15 Wareham Place
* Baisley Park Houses
* Belson Stadium
* Jamaica Chamber of Commerce Building
* Jamaica Hospital Medical Center
* Jamaica Savings Bank
* 146-21 Jamaica Avenue
* 161-02 Jamaica Avenue
* King Manor
* Jamaica Race Course
* J. Kurtz and Sons Store Building
* La Casina
* Loew's Valencia Theatre
* Queens Detention Facility
* Sidewalk clock on Jamaica Avenue
* South Jamaica Houses
* Triboro Hospital for Tuberculosis
* United States Post Office

Transportation|

| Subway stations|

* 169th Street
* Jamaica–179th Street
* Jamaica Center–Parsons/Archer
* Jamaica–Van Wyck
* Parsons Boulevard
* Sutphin Boulevard
* Sutphin Boulevard–Archer Avenue–JFK Airport

|

Other stations|

* 165th Street Bus Terminal
* Hillside Facility
* Jamaica
* Locust Manor
* St. Albans

Former stations|

* 160th Street
* 168th Street
* Cedar Manor
* Metropolitan Avenue
* Queens Boulevard
* Rockaway Junction
* Sutphin Boulevard
* Union Hall Street

Geography|

* Beaver Pond
* Jamaica Bay
* Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge

Related areas|

* Briarwood
* Jamaica Estates
* John F. Kennedy International Airport
* Jamaica Hills
* Meadowmere
* Rochdale Village
* South Jamaica
* Springfield Gardens
* St. Albans

See also: Queens Community Board 12

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* United States

*['69]: class of 1969
*['65]: class of 1965
*['53]: class of 1953
*['79]: class of 1979
*['59]: class of 1959
*['91]: class of 1991
*['28]: class of 1928
*['43]: class of 1943
*['38]: class of 1938
*['33]: class of 1933
*['55]: class of 1955
*['87]: class of 1987
*['62]: class of 1962
*['61]: class of 1961
*['68]: class of 1968
*['66]: class of 1966
*['41]: class of 1941
*['58]: class of 1958
*['17]: class of 1917
*[1911]: class of 1911
*['56]: class of 1956
*['50]: class of 1950
*['31]: class of 1931
*['20]: class of 1920
*['60]: class of 1960
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*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template