Finalist: San Francisco Chronicle, by Lacy Atkins

Kindergarten student Isaiah Cummings counts as he works on a math question during class on Tuesday December 11, 2012 at the 100 Black Men Community Charter School in Oakland, Calif. Over the past decade, the number of African American men killed on the streets of Oakland nearly matched the number who graduated from its high schools ready to attend a state university. Against this backdrop of failure and death, school officials in Oakland, California became the first in the nation to create an independent task force with the sole focus of helping African American males navigate the challenges of their surroundings. The group sponsored a charter school specifically for black boys. (August 25, 2013)

Imir Stills-Bey, left, Donavon Richard and Kavion Hammond lead Mr. Peter Wilson's sixth-grade class in the "scholar holler" at the start of school. The chant is done every morning before class at the 100 Black Men Community Charter School to promote a eagerness for learning. (August 25, 2013)

Principal Dr. Stanley Johnson introduces career day guests to the students of the 100 Black Men Community Charter School. The school invited businessmen, police officers and firefighters to mentor the boys and to encourage that they take a career-oriented approach to life. (August 25, 2013)

Anastasia Perrilliat tells her son Carton Perrilliat, a kindergarten student, that she loves him and assures him she will to back to pick him up from school. Carton, like many of the students, come from a broken home and he struggles with abandonment issues. (August 25, 2013)

Sixth-grade student Jayden Brumfield acts exasperated as teacher Peter Wilson assigns homework. The children that were chosen to attend the 100 Black Men Charter School were students who acted out or had learning disabilities that the other schools in the district did not want. (August 25, 2013)

Fifth-grade student Joshua West listens to principal Dr. Stanley Johnson as he talks to him about his behavior while standing among drawings of Tommie Smith, an African American athlete who is known for giving the Black Power salute at the 1968 Olympics. He visits the students at their school once or twice a year. (August 25, 2013)

Charlie Henderson, a sixth grade student, works on math problems. Like most of the students at the school, Charlie comes from a background of poverty and neglect. His father is incarcerated, his mother is no longer around, and his grandfather recently passed away, so Charlie now lives with his grandmother. (August 25, 2013)

Sixth-grade teacher Peter Wilson escorts Dasni Wilson (no relation) to the principal's office for fighting on the playground as fifth-grader Chae' Adams sits in the hall for disrupting class. At the beginning of the school year fights commonly break out in class and during recess. (August 25, 2013)

Saud Nasir listens to Oakland Police Officer Damon Gilbert as he talks to the sixth grade class about the challenges of his job during career day. Because of the young boys' upbringing and the violence they witness on the street, many students don't trust the police. However, when confronted with an African-American police officer in the safety of the classroom, many of them began to warm up to his authority. (August 25, 2013)

Jeremiah Little and his brother Taric fight on the playground on the last day of the 2012-2013 school year. Because the 100 Black Men Community Charter School let out for the summer later than most Oakland schools, attendance during the last few days of the year dropped and the students became more restive.  (August 25, 2013)

Tired from the day, Jordan Burns holds his face in his hands during Mr. Stafford-Glenn's fourth-grade class. Jordan was ordered several times to sit up straight and pay attention, but out of rebellion he ignored his teacher. (August 25, 2013)

Principal Dr. Stanley Johnson encourages a student to finish his breakfast and go outside for the 'Scholar Holler' before school. In the morning, the students can come early for breakfast - a meal they may not otherwise receive in their homes. (August 25, 2013)

Crystal Watson-Johnson, Assistant to the Dean, and Dean Spencer Hooper try to console fourth-grader Delyon Rice after he was sent to the restoration room for punching his teacher. Students are sent to the restoration room for screaming, hitting teachers, fighting, or generally acting out. (August 25, 2013)

Solomon Jonthan and Crystal Watson-Johnson bow their heads to pray before eating their lunch at her desk in the restoration room. Solomon was sent to the restoration room for disrupting class after a fellow student made him believe he wouldn't get to eat lunch. To make him feel better, Crystal Watson-Johnson ate with him. (August 25, 2013)

Sixth-grade teacher Peter Wilson finds a moment of respite during lunch alone in the teacher's lounge. Wilson cares deeply for his students, and made it a personal tenant never to yell at the young men, but he was thankful for the rest his 15-minute lunch break provided. (August 25, 2013)

Principal Dr. Stanley Johnson tells Naias Johnson to tie his shoe and return to class. Students at the 100 Black Men Community Charter School are required to adhere to a strict dress code of khaki pants, dress shirts, ties and blue sweaters, except on Fridays, when they may wear a college sweatshirt or t-shirt of their choice. (August 25, 2013)

Ray Byrd, center, shows off his Batman t-shirt to Ciaran Johnson (l-r) and Alonzo Swift as they prepare to go back to their fourth-grade class after recess. The boys were putting their clothes back in place after playing hard during their break. (August 25, 2013)

Principal Dr. Stanley Johnson says goodbye to fifth-grader Eresha Woods, on the last day of the 2012-2013 school year. Dr. Johnson admired the boy, because Woods' studiousness and discipline reminded him of himself as a young man. This would likely be the last time they saw each other. (August 25, 2013)

Sixth-grade teacher Peter Wilson wipes his tears as he says goodbye to Dr. Stanley Johnson on the last day of school. Throughout the year, Wilson grew fond of many of the boys, but both he and Johnson were fired at the end of the school year. (August 25, 2013)

Fourth-grader Jasani Freeman gazes out the bus window as the class leaves for a field trip to see a performance of The Christmas Carol. Because the students come from impoverished families, many had never seen a theatrical production before, and were unsure of what to expect. (August 25, 2013)