College: It's What We Do!

WELCOME, PARENTS!

To Roberto Clemente Charter School
"Prepare To Live the Dream"
136 South Fourth St., Allentown, PA 18102
Dr. Maritza Robert, CEO

WHO WE ARE

Roberto Clemente Charter School is a school of choice that draws its students from the city of Allentown. The school started in 2000 with middle school students, progressively added a high school program, and by school year 2008-2009 housed 320 high school and middle school students.

Roberto Clemente Charter School is a school community in which students, teachers, administrators, parents and community members:

·           are all learners.

·           share common values, ideas and commitments.

·           embrace a multicultural perspective and a collaborative approach with all local resources to maximize students' success.

What is a charter school?

         Charter schools are public schools that function under a charter from a sponsoring school district. Roberto Clemente Charter School operates as an autonomous public school chartered by the Allentown (PA) School District.

       Pennsylvania's charter school law, enacted in 1997, allows charter schools to engage in innovative educational programs that meet high performance standards. At its founding, the Roberto Clemente Charter School was sponsored by the Hispanic American Organization.

WHY WE EXIST

Mission statement:

Roberto Clemente is a small learning community that inspires and educates students to maximize their success. The school provides students with a rigorous academic foundation using a holistic approach. The school also challenges students to excel and to acquire the knowledge and skills that they will need to be successful in college and secondary level study and to be lifelong learners.

WHAT OUR CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION PROVIDE

The core curriculum at Roberto Clemente Charter School includes: language arts; math;  science; social studies; health and physical education; art, music and theater; computers; ESL (English as a Second Language); and special education.

The school’s instruction provides:

·   small class size and individualized instruction

·   academic rigor – emphasis in standards-                        based  learning, relevancy and relationships

·   proper assessments to verify progress

·   lively discussions and critical thinking

·   technology integration in core subject areas

·   active problem-finding and problem-solving

·   National Best Practices

·   character development and increased social skills

·   Project-Based Learning

·   Early College Opportunities

·   programs that are held before and after school,  on 

   Saturdays and in the summer.

WHAT ELSE DO WE OFFER

Academic clubs meet three times a week after school. Their purpose

is to reinforce and enhance learning that takes place in the classroom.

Academic clubs include:

·   enrichment – business, introduction to philosophy, SAT

preparation

·   language – advanced Spanish

·   language arts – multidisciplinary projects for high school and middle school students, book club, creative writing, Gothic fiction

·   math -- advanced topics in high school and middle school mathematics

·   science -- advanced placement chemistry, exploratory science, physics and astronomy

·   social studies -- history of American cinema and the American presidency, cultural geography.

Creative clubs, which meet twice a week, include:

·   exercise – Bollywood dance, floor hockey, soccer

·   languages – French, German

·   music and acting – choir, drama

·   reading/writing – book club, publications (combined with computer skills)

·   other special interests – arts and crafts, board games, brain teasers and computer games, classic cinema, cooking, culture club, TV club.

 WHO ARE OUR PARTNERS

Various companies, colleges and community groups form partnerships with the school to provide support in different ways. Past and present partners include the Hispanic American Organization, Pennsylvania Department of Education, National Council of LA RAZA, KNBT Bank, Lowe's, PPL, Allentown Art Museum, Community Music School, DaVinci Science Center, Lehigh Valley Heritage Museum, Carbon-Lehigh Intermediate Unit, East Stroudsburg University, Kutztown University, Lehigh Carbon Community College, Lehigh University and Muhlenberg College.

WHAT ARE SOME INTERESTING FACTS

·         The school's graduation rate has averaged 100% in the past three years.

·         The average attendance rate of students has averaged 96% in the past three years.

·         In 2007-2008, 65% of students went to on to college.

Dr. Robert and Mr. Romero