Family Background versus school profile of the municipality: which has greater impact on the academic performance of Brazilian students?

Abstract

Many factors converge to define the success attained by individual students, including family background, school infrastructure and quality of teaching. Most studies in Brazil call attention to the great importance of the family in children’s education, and indicate the country’s considerable educational stratification. However, it is important to discuss how the quality of schools and teachers can reduce this stratification. This article describes a study on how to investigate the determinants of educational results in grade, middle and high schools in Brazil, considering both family background and local school structures. The analysis consists of an examination of what aspects of the profiles of local schools may help reduce the influence of family environment on educational stratification. The question, then, is how to lower the importance of the relationship between individual school experiences and social patterns among students.