The article regards a single episode from a longstanding competition for the Royal Progymnasium in Reszel between Warmian cities in the 19th century. The preserved archival materials allow for a more in-depth analysis of the efforts of Olsztyn in the years 1861–1861 to gain this secondary school. The city attempted to out-bid Lidzbark Warmiński by declaring, among others, the purchase of the Olsztyn castle to serve the needs of the school. Its authorities expressed their preliminary interest in the offer; however, the negotiations lasted for months until Olsztyn authorities assured the completion of all requirements outlined by the provincial school college in Königsberg. Olsztyn’s offer was so compelling that the Ministry of Education initially agreed to translocate the school. Yet, Reszel authorities soon began their diplomatic offensive that convinced Berlin to leave the progymna-sium in their city and transform it into a full-scale secondary school – a gymnasium.The efforts of Olsztyn authorities had, nevertheless, a significant influence over the final shape of the network of secondary schools in Warmia in the 19th century, although in the dynamically developing Olsztyn of that time such a school appeared as late as in 1970s. In the conclusions, the author additionally attests that there is a clear relationship in the way of thinking of the then elites between the offer of education above primary level and specific economic calculations; the possibility of gaining education in secondary schools was connected with perspectives of further development of the city. The efforts of the cities were the decisive factor in the rapid devel-opment of the network of Eastern Prussian secondary schools in the second half of 19th century.