School enrollment in public schools in Rio de Janeiro

Abstract

This work discusses the distribution of educational opportunities and the existence of mechanism related to school segregation in the city of Rio de Janeiro educational system. In order to do so, it relies on student distribution analysis in a set of schools. The aim is to understand the distribution of pupils among schools in the transition from the fifth to sixth grade of elementary education by analyzing families and school administration`s actions. The study has combined quantitative and qualitative analysis. The analyses of the patterns of pupils exchange among schools were conducted using Local Educational Bureau datasets. We have conducted interviews with 30 families and three school principals to apprehend families´ criteria to choose and strategies to access schools and the enrollment procedures adopted by school principals. The results suggest patterns of pupils exchange between schools that bear similar profiles. They show that families follow distinctive paths to reach the places at schools and that principals play an active role in pupils' selection.

Keywords:
school choice; school segregation; school enrollment; educational opportunities