Abstract
This study investigates the main characteristics and leading trends in the development of elitist general secondary education in Kazakhstan. There is a brief overview of the republic's objective needs and the actual possibilities for implementing elitist general secondary education. This article also discusses the issues with the implementation of elitist general secondary education in developed countries. The identified contradictions made it possible to determine the research problem, which lies in the question, “What are the features and leading trends in the development of elitist general secondary education in Kazakhstan at the present stage?” To address this issue, a serious and responsible approach to reforming secondary education is required, considering the positive international experience of developing elitist secondary education worldwide.