The Role of Bulgarian Elite Schools in the Process of Social Reproduction

Abstract

The focus of the article is placed on the functioning of elite schools in Bulgaria. Elite schools raise interest, which is intensified by such phenomena as high competition at “the entry”, specific subcultures of pupils and their social background. These features are connected with the social idea of individual position stratification which has grounds in socialization and selective mechanisms at school. The article is a presentation of data obtained through the research conducted in 2005 in four elite language high schools in Sofia. What has been analysed are the characteristics of elite schools connected with background of pupils, and occupational and economic profile of their families. These characteristics, assuming certain high social values, constitute the basis for the functioning of the discussed institutions, which distinguish themselves by selectiveness, teachers’ professionalism and competitiveness among pupils. The aim is to indicate the process of integrating the ‘reproduction’ and ‘meritocracy’ models within the functioning of an elite school.