Roberto W. Clemente Middle School

Pretty good. My child was in Math/Sci magnet program. She also got a high level education in world studies and foreign language. English was MCPS average because it was not a magnet class for my child. Lots of clubs and activities and a chance to participate in contests, competitions and tournaments. Some excellent grade-level field trips within the school dovetailing with the IB curriculum. Excellent and award-winning music program, an excellent drama teacher, active NJHS, SGA etc. Parent involvement was effective. Tons of opportunities. A student can seize these opportunities and have a fantastic and enriching three years.

Very good. The Magnet program was outstanding.

The magnet program is outstanding here. My daughter has been challenged and that was a necessity for her. She is a caucasian girl in a diverse but well managed middle school. Like any American public school, the everyday student population includes some wonderful kids and some rowdies. But the rowdies are tightly controlled and monitored - perhaps more than elsewhere. The current Principal is a non-nonsense guy who tolerates no bullying, dirty language, or anything approaching bad behavior in the hallways. The Magnet kids and rest of school rarely interact, other than in gym, and my daughter has never had a problem ever of any kind. We have also not heard of or experienced anything negative and she has been there for all three years now (8th grade now). The teachers in the Magnet are some of the best. With rare exception, she has been challenged at levels equivalent to 11th grade or higher even at 7th grade both in Math and particularly in English. All of her friends are straight A-ers and the school coordinator for the program is excellent (Somer Snider). As a father who has been very picky about my daughters' teachers and friends, I can verify for you that regardless of race or background, the Magnet at Clemente is outstanding and they really do pick the best of the best for the program. Competition is fierce, but if you can get in - only one out of about 80 is selected - do it. I did see a complaint about the "slavery" emphasis etc. of the curriculum. Obviously, it is not the job of any teacher to preach or propagandize -- the mark of a bad teacher. I cannot speak for the regular school portion, but my daughter was never told HOW to think, only to learn to think rationally based on evidence and her own ideas, particularly in her non-Math classes. Her English teacher, Ms. Kelly last year in 7th grade -- was off the charts outstanding. (She's moved on to a high school now - but her replacement is equally good). In the magnet, there is no preaching. She loved it. You cannot find a school in the America with absolutely NO loudmouth idiots raised by lousy parents wandering around. However, at Clemente, they make sure these clowns stay separate and away from everybody else. There are far fewer of them at Clemente than some disparagers have stated here, but in any case if your child is looking for an excellent education grades 6-8, you cannot do better than Clemente's magnet program.

Hello, I am prospective community member, Anybody here know if the computer science classes are only for the magnet kids or other kids also get to attend them?