Assemblyman Rory I. Lancman applauded the landmarking of eighty-two year old Jamaica High School, which is located in his district. Jamaica High School has long been a source of civic pride and securing landmark status for it has been an important goal for neighborhood activists.

“This is a great day for Queens. Jamaica High School has educated generations of leaders, artists, musicians and writers. It is a distinctive and storied part of our community and deserves the City's the recognition. We all owe a deep and sincere thank you to everyone who worked so hard to win landmark status for this neighborhood institution,” said Assemblyman Lancman in a statement in response to the Landmarking Commission's decision.

Jamaica High School, which is situated on Gothic Drive and 167th Street, was founded in 1927. In its long history Jamaica High School has produced many distinguished alumni including Pulitzer Prize winners Alan Dugan, Gunther Schuller and Art Buchwald, Nobel Prize winning scientist Gertrude Belle Elion , musical pioneers, the Cleftones, Academy Award winning director Francis Ford Coppola, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee and former US Attorney General John Mitchell.