Capstone projects serve as the centerpiece for an assessment system that values problem-solving and frames assessment as learning opportunities for students and teachers. Every January and May for one week, Chelsea High School, in Chelsea, Massachusetts, breaks from their traditional, four- periods-a-day bell schedule and the fast pace of a typical high school. During this time students are asked to come in by appointment to present on a topic in which they have particular expertise: their own learning. This presentation is their capstone. In this article, Chelsea High School illustrates and details how schools can integrate new policies and practices into their own vision for education, rather than merely follow a path of compliance with district and state mandates.