On the border between Chinatown and the Lower East Side, PS 126 serves children from nearby housing projects as well as a homeless shelter that's just on the other side of the school's playground. A rare gem, PS 126 has managed to close the academic gap between children from stable middle-class families and those who struggle with poverty and a raft of social problems. Children who start school speaking only Spanish or Chinese soon catch up with their English-speaking peers. The secret to success is exemplary teaching -not just good teaching, but consistently excellent teaching in every classroom. Strong leadership, small class size, ample books and supplies, and strong guidance from the regional office have made PS 126 a model of urban education. The ratio of children to teachers, aides, and other grown-ups is enviable. We saw no classes with only one adult, and paraprofessionals and student teachers from Fordham and New York University are abundant.