The article focus on a phenomenon that is scarcely studied within the Brazilian context: the dispute for public schools that cannot be characterized as elite or excellence centers. However, these schools attained a good reputation as good quality schools. The phenomenon expresses itself, on one hand, through competitive arrangements made by families in search for the best educational opportunities. On the other hand, the school bureaucracy has an active role in the school choice of their students. It is intertwined with the network of social hierarchies and unequal opportunities in the Brazilian society. The asset of social relations available to the actors is heavily accessed in face of a poor offer of schools, the struggle for better opportunities takes a huge place within the strategy of many individuals and families
public school; equal opportunities; public policy; teaching quality
