Jamaica High School

Jamaica High School
Present building completed in 1927
Address
Map
167-01 Gothic Drive

,
New York

United States
Coordinates40°42′52″N 73°47′54″W / 40.7145°N 73.7982°W / 40.7145; -73.7982
Information
TypePublic
Established1892
StatusOpen
Grades9–12
Color(s)Red & Blue
MascotBeavers

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.