classified as grupo b, grupo c, and grupo d respectively, these schools show off their best in the hopes of being promoted to the higher group.

eventually, some of these schools might be part of the internationally famous 'grupo especial', parading in the sambódromo under the spotlight.

in fact, every year, the best samba school in each group is moved up to the better rank and conversely, the worse samba school of each tier is moved down to the lower classification.