.schools-section {
  padding: 28px 0 36px;
}

.schools-grid {
  display: grid !important;
  grid-template-columns: repeat(3, minmax(280px, 1fr)) !important;
  gap: 24px !important;
  padding: 10px 0 !important;
}

.school-card.elite-card {
  position: relative !important;
  display: block !important;
  min-height: 560px !important;
  height: 560px !important;
  overflow: hidden !important;
  border-radius: 28px !important;
  text-decoration: none !important;
  background: #dfe6f1 !important;
  box-shadow: 0 18px 40px rgba(8, 22, 61, 0.12) !important;
  border: 1px solid rgba(15, 35, 84, 0.08) !important;
  transition: transform 0.45s ease, box-shadow 0.45s ease, border-color 0.45s ease !important;
}

.school-card.elite-card:hover {
  transform: translateY(-10px) !important;
  box-shadow: 0 28px 60px rgba(8, 22, 61, 0.20) !important;
  border-color: rgba(196, 161, 77, 0.28) !important;
}

.card-image-wrap {
  position: absolute !important;
  inset: 0 !important;
  z-index: 1 !important;
  overflow: hidden !important;
}

.card-image-wrap img {
  width: 100% !important;
  height: 100% !important;
  display: block !important;
  object-fit: cover !important;
  object-position: center top !important;
  transition: transform 0.85s ease !important;
}

.school-card.elite-card:hover .card-image-wrap img {
  transform: scale(1.08) !important;
}

.card-image-overlay {
  position: absolute !important;
  inset: 0 !important;
  z-index: 2 !important;
  background:
    linear-gradient(to top, rgba(4, 17, 49, 0.80) 0%, rgba(4, 17, 49, 0.28) 35%, rgba(4, 17, 49, 0.08) 60%, rgba(4, 17, 49, 0.36) 100%) !important;
}

/* premium top reveal */
.card-top {
  position: absolute !important;
  top: 0 !important;
  left: 0 !important;
  right: 0 !important;
  z-index: 4 !important;
  padding: 28px 26px 28px !important;
  background:
    linear-gradient(180deg, rgba(2, 12, 39, 0.98) 0%, rgba(5, 21, 63, 0.96) 100%) !important;
  backdrop-filter: blur(8px) !important;
  transform: translateY(-68%) !important;
  transition: transform 0.48s ease, opacity 0.35s ease !important;
  box-shadow: 0 10px 30px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.14) !important;
}

.school-card.elite-card:hover .card-top {
  transform: translateY(0) !important;
}

.school-badge {
  display: inline-flex !important;
  align-items: center !important;
  padding: 9px 16px !important;
  border-radius: 999px !important;
  background: rgba(255, 214, 94, 0.08) !important;
  border: 1px solid rgba(255, 214, 94, 0.30) !important;
  color: #f6cf63 !important;
  font-size: 0.78rem !important;
  font-weight: 800 !important;
  letter-spacing: 2.2px !important;
  text-transform: uppercase !important;
  box-shadow: inset 0 0 0 1px rgba(255,255,255,0.02) !important;
}

.school-card.elite-card h3 {
  margin: 18px 0 12px !important;
  font-size: 2.1rem !important;
  line-height: 1.02 !important;
  font-weight: 800 !important;
  letter-spacing: -0.04em !important;
  color: #ffffff !important;
  text-shadow: 0 2px 12px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.18) !important;
}

.school-card.elite-card p {
  margin: 0 !important;
  max-width: 92% !important;
  font-size: 1rem !important;
  line-height: 1.8 !important;
  color: rgba(255,255,255,0.90) !important;
}

/* bottom premium footer */
.card-footer {
  position: absolute !important;
  left: 0 !important;
  right: 0 !important;
  bottom: 0 !important;
  z-index: 4 !important;
  display: flex !important;
  justify-content: space-between !important;
  align-items: center !important;
  padding: 24px 26px 24px !important;
  background: linear-gradient(to top, rgba(4, 17, 49, 0.92), rgba(4, 17, 49, 0.58), transparent) !important;
}

.card-link-text {
  color: #ffffff !important;
  font-size: 0.95rem !important;
  font-weight: 800 !important;
  letter-spacing: 2px !important;
  text-transform: uppercase !important;
}

.card-arrow {
  display: inline-flex !important;
  align-items: center !important;
  justify-content: center !important;
  width: 46px !important;
  height: 46px !important;
  border-radius: 50% !important;
  background: linear-gradient(135deg, #d7b152 0%, #f3d26d 100%) !important;
  color: #0d1b4c !important;
  font-size: 1.1rem !important;
  font-weight: 800 !important;
  box-shadow: 0 10px 24px rgba(215, 177, 82, 0.34) !important;
  transition: transform 0.3s ease, box-shadow 0.3s ease !important;
}

.school-card.elite-card:hover .card-arrow {
  transform: translateX(4px) !important;
  box-shadow: 0 16px 30px rgba(215, 177, 82, 0.42) !important;
}

/* subtle luxury shine */
.school-card.elite-card::before {
  content: "" !important;
  position: absolute !important;
  inset: 0 !important;
  z-index: 3 !important;
  pointer-events: none !important;
  background:
    radial-gradient(circle at top left, rgba(255,255,255,0.16), transparent 28%),
    linear-gradient(135deg, rgba(255,255,255,0.04), transparent 45%) !important;
}

@media (max-width: 1100px) {
  .schools-grid {
    grid-template-columns: repeat(2, minmax(260px, 1fr)) !important;
  }
}

@media (max-width: 700px) {
  .schools-grid {
    grid-template-columns: 1fr !important;
  }

  .school-card.elite-card {
    min-height: 520px !important;
    height: 520px !important;
    border-radius: 22px !important;
  }

  .school-card.elite-card h3 {
    font-size: 1.8rem !important;
  }

  .card-top {
    transform: translateY(-62%) !important;
  }
}