Jamaica High School

Jamaica High School is a public high school located in the Jamaica, Queens neighborhood of New York City. The school has a long history, dating back to 1900, and has undergone several transformations over the years, including a major renovation in the 1920s under the leadership of New York City Department of Education and Mayor John Purroy Mitchel. Jamaica High School has been attended by many notable individuals, including Bert Sugar, a renowned boxing historian, and Sylvia Field, an Emmy Award-winning actress who appeared in numerous Broadway productions, such as Annie Get Your Gun and The Women. The school has also been recognized for its academic achievements, including being named a National Blue Ribbon School by the United States Department of Education.

● History

Jamaica High School was established in 1892 as a small schoolhouse on Hillside Avenue in Jamaica, Queens, with the support of the New York State Legislature and Governor Roswell P. Flower. The school quickly grew, and by the 1910s, it had become one of the largest high schools in Queens, with a student body that included future notable figures such as Jackie Robinson, who went on to play for the Brooklyn Dodgers and break the color barrier in Major League Baseball, and Malcolm X, a prominent figure in the Civil Rights Movement who attended Nation of Islam events and worked with Elijah Muhammad. During World War I, the school played an important role in the war effort, with many students and faculty members participating in Red Cross activities and supporting the American Expeditionary Forces. In the 1950s and 1960s, Jamaica High School underwent significant changes, including the introduction of new academic programs and the construction of a new building, which was designed by architects from Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and featured a gymnasium and auditorium.

● Campus

The Jamaica High School campus is located on 168th Street in Jamaica, Queens, and features a mix of old and new buildings, including the original 1900 schoolhouse, which has been designated as a New York City landmark by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. The campus is situated near several other notable institutions, including York College, City University of New York, Queens Hospital Center, and the Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning, which offers classes and workshops in music, dance, and visual arts. The school's athletic fields are located nearby, and are used by teams from Jamaica High School as well as other local schools, including Thomas Edison High School and August Martin High School. The campus is also close to several major transportation hubs, including the Jamaica Station of the Long Island Rail Road and the E train of the New York City Subway, which provides easy access to Manhattan and other parts of the city.

● Academics

Jamaica High School offers a wide range of academic programs, including Advanced Placement courses in subjects such as English literature, calculus, and physics, as well as vocational training programs in areas like culinary arts and computer science. The school is also home to a number of specialized programs, including the High School for Law Enforcement and Public Safety, which is one of several magnet schools in the New York City public school system. Students at Jamaica High School have the opportunity to take courses at nearby colleges, including Queens College, City University of New York and Borough of Manhattan Community College, and can earn credits towards a degree through the College Now program, which is sponsored by the City University of New York. The school's academic programs are supported by a range of resources, including the Jamaica High School Library, which features a collection of over 10,000 volumes, and the New York City Department of Education's Office of Curriculum and Instruction.

● Extracurricular Activities

Jamaica High School offers a wide range of extracurricular activities, including sports teams, clubs, and organizations. The school's athletic teams, known as the Jamaica High School Beavers, compete in the Public Schools Athletic League and have won several championships in sports such as basketball, football, and track and field. Students can also participate in clubs such as the Debate Team, which has competed in tournaments at Harvard University and Yale University, and the School Newspaper, which has won awards from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. The school's music and arts programs are also highly regarded, with students performing in concerts and productions at venues such as Carnegie Hall and the Apollo Theater. Additionally, the school has a strong partnership with organizations such as the New York City Police Department and the American Red Cross, which provide students with opportunities for community service and volunteer work.

● Notable Alumni

Jamaica High School has a long list of notable alumni, including Bert Sugar, a renowned boxing historian and member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame, and Sylvia Field, an Emmy Award-winning actress who appeared in numerous Broadway productions, such as Annie Get Your Gun and The Women. Other notable alumni include Jackie Robinson, who broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball and was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, and Malcolm X, a prominent figure in the Civil Rights Movement who worked with Elijah Muhammad and the Nation of Islam. The school has also produced several notable figures in the fields of politics and government, including Shirley Chisholm, the first African American woman to be elected to Congress, and Mario Cuomo, the former Governor of New York who served from 1983 to 1994. Additionally, the school has a strong connection to the entertainment industry, with alumni such as Luther Vandross, a renowned R&B singer and songwriter, and 50 Cent, a successful rapper and actor who has appeared in films such as Get Rich or Die Tryin'. Category:High schools in Queens, New York