Matt Rainey

Photojournalism: Last Chance High

Three dozen teenagers, all failures at other schools, bring the troubles of the streets into three cinder-block classrooms in Orange, where teachers work for a turnaround.

Valedictorian David Tingoli (right) spend the last few minutes before graduation alone as his classmate Ronnie Davis (center) greets family members entering the school. Tingolie , a loner spent 4 years at the school after being thrown out of standard public school in Orange due to violent behavior. In October, 2004, Davis was shot in the head and killed during a dispute over a woman.
  
Rough-housing turns to raw violence in the bathroom of the school as Jamar Eanes and Nazir Pender, who are both classified as emotionally disturbed, get into a full blown fight. Many of the students have a hard time drawing the line between kidding around and violence.
  
Although the school's staff constantly tell the students not to run outside the school, Al Malik Collins (center, left) and other students chase each other down the street. For them, it is a way to release excess energy, but to neighbors it means something else. Neighbors often call the police because they fear the kids are engaged in criminal activity.
     
  
Students Maurice Williams and Krista Remak play a video game during a school outing to a ice skating rink. Getting students engaged in planned activities is a major challenge for the instructors.
  
At the end of the school day, Teacher Tony Pendleton stays by the main doors and says goodbye to the students as they exit. Eton Yellow-Duke gives Mr. Pendleton "some respect" as he leaves for home.
  
Valley School student Tamar Bowman is a crack dealer. He calls himself a hustler. On a Tuesday afternoon, Tamar hangs on his porch. He deals his drug down on Clinton Ave, about a block away. He says keeps his stash in the basement where he also keeps his gun.
     
  
Three weeks before The Valley School reopens from summer break, Tamar finds himself in court after having been jailed for drug dealing. He is sentenced to four years of probation.
  
Tamar Bowman's grandmother Barbara sweeps up the area in front of their home on Seymour St. after coming home from work. Tamar, who has just awoken, sits on the steps as Barbara sweeps. Barbara is upset that she comes home from a day's work to find the area filthy. She is the only member of the Bowman family with a job.
  
Tamar helps his brother Jahid get dressed while their mother sleeps at 2pm on a Wednesday afternoon. Tamar , disgusted by Jahid's appearance after seeing him out on the porch after awaking, takes him back inside and re-dresses Jahid in clean clothes.
     
  
Ayisha Beatty was an honor student in elementary school, but angry outbursts got her expelled. She rolls a joint between lap dances at the Champagne Room in Irvington, NJ. "I can't deal with this sober..." she says. Out of the 36 students at The Valley School, Ayisha is one of four females.
  
Tamar Bowman hangs out in a friend's apartment as they work on raps for an upcoming self produced CD.
  
After school, Ayisha gets high on Ecstacy and pot at home.
     
  
Ayisha Beatty plays with her new dog "Mother CC" that a boy gave her the day before. "I think she came from the circus that was in town last week." Ayisha says of her new dog. After playing outside her house on 18th Ave. in Newark, she bathes and brushes the dog's teeth. By October, the dog is gone, Ayisha gave the dog to her father and it hasn't been seen since.
  
The 1st day of the new school year at The Valley School in Orange. Malik and Ayisha make it to school, Tamar has been arrested on a bench warrant the night before and misses the 1st day back. 8 of the Valley School's students are either incarcerated or in juvenile detention programs. Ayisha Beatty meets with counselor Peter Hardellin the couselor's office where they talk about her summer and her plans for the school year.
  
Al-Malik Collins, who lives in East Orange spends his day at home, out on the basketball court and with his dad, Al-Malik Wrenn. Al-Malik is a CRIP. Al-Malik and his dad walk along William St. near their home. Mr. Wrenn has spent much of his son's life in prison for various convictions. He is out and now trying to re-connect with his son. Mr. Wrenn is concerned that Al-Malik is falling deep into the gang life.
     
  
Teacher Tony Pendleton hovers over Al Malik Collins during a math lesson. Pendleton takes a military approach to teaching. Ron Orr, the school's principal refers to Pendleton as "Colin Powell, the General."
   
The Valley School Principal Ron Orr (left) and coach Shelton Applewhite (right) talk with Al Malik about a gang shooting in which Al Malik and a friend were injured.
  
Fearing "...a violent summer..." and in an effort to get him away from his fellow gang members, Al Malik's father takes him to an aunt in Texas. Al Malik spends the summer there and his father hopes to enroll him in school there.
     
  
Al Malik orders ice cream from a truck. "I feel like I can be a kid here..." In the end, he cannot live by his aunt's rules and she sends him back to New Jersey.
  
Tamar is toasted as he prepares to leave his house to go to the prom by several members of the Valley School staff. They toast him with sparkling grape cider.
  
On the day his classmates receive their diplomas, Al Malik sits in Essex County Jail. He was charged with the theft of a North Face Parka. "Please tell everybody that I miss them." he says sobbing.
     
  
Ayisha sits alone on graduation day. Later, she says that receiving her diploma made her feel "clean...you know, like I accomplished this. This is for the rest of my life."