About Clemente

Roberto Clemente is an alternative educational program that was established by the Ann Arbor Board of Education in 1974, for 8th through 12th graders, who reside in the Ann Arbor Public School District. The “Clemente Family” serves students who require a smaller, more structured and nurturing environment. Students may be self-referred or referred by their counselor or administrator. Please contact the liaison at your child’s school if you are interested in attending Clemente. Students may enroll at any time during the school year. Once accepted into the program, the student, accompanied by his or her parents, must be interviewed by the principal.

Mission & Philosophy

The Roberto Clemente family, consisting of parents, students, staff, and alumni, commit ourselves to nurturing the human spirit by fostering an exceptional educational environment  focused on (emphasizing) academic and social achievement.

Roberto Clemente holds a belief in the dignity of each person and a respect for diversity within the Clemente family. We provide a positive atmosphere for growth - intellectually, emotionally, socially, and physically through which individual students are allowed to develop their own strengths and talents, and to use their gifts for the betterment of the home, school, and community. Students are encouraged to build within themselves a stable set of skills and values, which will provide an anchor in the information age of the 21st Century.

Clemente offers smaller class sizes where students are able to receive more individual attention. We stress the development of academic and social skills necessary for future success. We offer the core classes that meet the graduation requirements of the Ann Arbor Public Schools, along with electives. Students graduate and receive their diploma from their home school, either Pioneer or Huron.

Traditions and practices that set Clemente apart from the other schools include:

• students are greeted each morning personally by the principal and staff
• every Wednesday students and staff get together for a rap session. Issues impacting students are discussed as well as individual problems or concerns
• students are paired with a staff mentor who students can come to for individual attention td discuss any issues or concerns.
• Positive steps toward achieving success at Clemente and upon return to their sending school are emphasized
• students are required to stay after school if they did not turn in their homework, or have absences to make up. A late bus will take students home at 4:00 p.m on Tuesdays & Thursdays.

Clemente views parents as an important component in their child’s success. National African American Parent Involvement Day (NAAPID) was founded and organized by former principal, Joseph Dulin, to be held annually on the second Monday in February. Clemente invites, and strongly encourages, all our parents to attend school with their child on that day. Parent Breakfast Club meetings are held at 9:00 a.m. on Saturdays once every month. Parents are required to attend one meeting each semester in order for their child to remain at Clemente the following semester.

Students in good standing are allowed to participate on sports teams and other extra-curricular activities offered at their home school. We also have student representatives on the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation Youth Council, the Student Advocate School Board (SASB), the Youth Empowerment Senate (YES), and city wide Black Student Union Meetings.