Employing data from three encounters, during 1996, 2001, and 2010, with students and teachers in Huining, gansu, China's "Gaokao county," known for its striking contrast between poverty and the remarkable achievements of its College Entrance Examination (CEE) candidates, we explore the lived experiences of Huining students and teachers who embody Huining's "Gaokao miracle." These experiences, examined in the context of rapid educational transformation and more gradual implementation of CEE reform policies, give expression to continuities and changes in students' and teachers' beliefs, attitudes, and values associated with the CEE. These include the values of hard work and persistence and beliefs about state-granted fairness in educational opportunities. Two 2010 case studies, reflecting controversies associated with the peak of CEE reform, shed light on the creation of CEE "winners" and "losers" and enrich our understanding of the usefulness and limits of social reproduction theories for understanding the impact and outcomes of the CEE on Chinese rural students and families. (Contains 11 notes.)