Struggling West Seattle Elementary gets a fresh start

In a corner classroom at one of Seattle's lowest-achieving schools, Ms. Coxon has dubbed her fourth-graders the Stanford Class of 2023.

Signs above the classroom door greet her 9- and 10-year-olds as the future students of her beloved alma mater and announce that "The path to college starts now." Her black cap and gown, with its red Stanford sash, hang on a wall inside, not far from where she's stapled a red-and-white Stanford pennant.

It's a little over the top, much like Chrissie Coxon herself, a confident, committed 25-year-old who is cheery but strict, and focuses on building her students' character as well as their academic skill.