What makes a successful rural P-12 school? This paper will review the notions of a successful school and will challenge the dominant voice of quantitative data as the yardstick for such success. In doing so, this paper will focus on qualitative measures including those aspects which are ignored by the quantitative data. Reference will be made to the Calen District State College and the Glenden State School (a P-12 school in a mining community) and the projects which these schools offer their students to provide them with a competitive edge in the job market. Phenomenographic research will be conducted to ascertain students' conceptions regarding the success of these schools and their projects.