The article considers history of the elementary schools at Kolywano-Voskresensk factories and mines in the XVIIIth century. The consideration is given to previously unknown historical facts. Particular attention is paid to the verification and revision of the entrenched historical research opinions. The authors reconstructed the process of factory schools functioning: control mechanisms; list of school subjects; teaching methods. The emphasis is made on the connection of schools of Kolywano-Voskresensk and the Ural factories. The article analyzes a number of schoolchildren; describes the practice of sending of schoolchildren to collate ores of Zmeinogorsk mine and the institution of apprenticeship which was widely spread in the 1760s. Education in all spheres of mining and factory production was an essential element of training. Finally, it is concluded that the construction of new enterprises and production capacity created the demand for skilled workers and managers of the lower and middle levels. The 2nd half of the XVIIIth century demanded domestic specialists with secondary education, which led to the subsequent opening of the Barnaul Mining School.