The article examines the values and norms in education system, with a specific empirical focus on the high schools in Arad city. Two theoretical perspectives are introduced for analysing the relationship between school and society. The first model refers to two opposite models for school: the “open” respectively the “oppressive” one. The corresponding metaphors illustrating this are referring to school as a “public space” or “as a “garrison”. Following the theory of habitus proposed by Bordieau, it is investigated the impact of different patterns of values and norms in defining the profiles of high schools. The conclusion of the study reveals that each school needs to reconsidering and re-defining the educational values and norms accordingly the expectances of their students.