Assessing Student's Achievement Gaps between Ethnic Groups in Brazil

Area of Science:

• Sociology of Education
• Educational Psychology
• Ethnic Studies

Background:

• Achievement gaps, defined as performance differences between social groups, are documented globally.
• Ethnic achievement gaps are particularly noted in diverse nations like Brazil.
• Previous research indicates disparities in academic performance among different ethnic groups.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze ethnic achievement gaps in Brazil using a national standardized exam.
• To investigate the influence of socio-economic variables on these gaps in mathematics and writing.
• To understand the interplay between ethnicity, socio-economics, and academic performance.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of a large cohort of Brazilian senior high-school students.
• Stratification of ethnic groups by state and socio-economic status for group homogenization.
• Welch's t-test applied to examine performance differences in mathematics and writing.

Main Results:

• Statistically insignificant or small (2-6%) achievement gaps were found between ethnic groups in low-income households.
• Larger ethnic achievement gaps were observed in some high-income family contexts.
• Parental education's effect on gaps varied, potentially increasing, decreasing, or maintaining disparities between White, Black, and Pardo students.

Conclusions:

• Socio-economic variables, influenced by historical factors, significantly impact student performance regardless of ethnicity.
• When students share similar cultural and economic contexts, ethnic background has minimal influence on group performance.
• Targeted socio-economic interventions may be key to reducing educational disparities.