In this article, John Larmer paints the picture of the ideal high-school graduate--one who is ready for college, career, and life in general. Among other qualities, this student is a problem solver, manages time effectively, works well with others, is open to feedback, and is innovative and creative. How do K-12 schools go about building this ideal graduate? Larmer argues that the answer is project based learning (PBL). Using the Buck Institute for Education's model of gold standard PBL, Larmer outlines the essential elements of successful projects. He offers three case studies of PBL in action: a 5th grade class that learns about cancer research while also holding a fund-raiser for a children's hospital; a 12th grade economics class that explores issues related to home ownership; and a high school algebra class that designs containers to solve real-world problems. Larmer asserts that it's in authentic, solutions-driven projects like these that students learn how to work in teams, test ideas, "fail forward," meet deadlines, and communicate with adults--all skills that the ideal graduate needs when he or she leaves high school.