This paper explores the process of the origination and development of the school education system in Vologda Governorate in the period 1725-1917. This part of the set is focused on the development of the region's public education system in the period 1860-1900. The authors draw upon a set of works covering prerevolutionary pedagogy, as well as a pool of contemporary Russian scholarly literature. In conducting the research reported in this paper, the authors employed both general methods of research, including concretization and summarization, and traditional methods of historical analysis. In addition, use was made of the historical-situational method, with a focus on exploring particular historical facts within the context of the given period in conjunction with various "neighboring" events and facts. The authors conclude by noting that from 1860 to 1900 Vologda Governorate enjoyed a period of dynamic development in its public education sector, which can be illustrated by the following figures: (1) an increase in the number of educational facilities from 154 to 1,046; (2) an improved girls-to-boys ratio (1 to 4 in 1900, as opposed to 1 to 6 in 1860). The region witnessed a major change in its system of secondary education, with almost similar numbers of boys and girls achieved by the 1900s. The governorate entered the 20th century with a literate population of a little over 30% (exclusive of children under nine). Given the extensive experience gained in the course of its work on enhancing the system of public education, the governorate's leadership had come to realize that putting an effective system of education in place was possible only provided there was steady and sufficient funding available. And that is testimony that the 1860s experience had, actually, been taken into account.