This paper systematizes the preliminary results of a research program conducted by the Research Group on Sociology of Education of Rio de Janeiro Catholic University - Soced/PUC-Rio - on the characteristics of 8th graders (the 13-14 age group) attending two renowned private schools in Rio de Janeiro. It deals with an aspect of the corpus of this research that addresses institutional and familial characteristics that interact in the learning process of these youngsters in order to produce an image of teaching excellence whereupon the prestige acquired by such schools rests.
SCHOOLS; RIO DE JANEIRO; TEACHING QUALITY; RESEARCH