The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of poverty on Ideb schools, using multilevel regression analysis. Therefore, the percentage of Bolsa Família's beneficiaries in schools with Ideb 2009 was considered. The mathematical model was composed by multilevel methodology as well as variables of school and county levels. After considering the effect of different levels of variables, there was an impact of -0.42 in model 1 and -0.29 in model 2. This means that the presence of students in poverty has a strongly negative effect on Ideb results. Public spending per student, population and region also interfere. It is hoped that the results of this study support the coping with meritocracy and the efforts to increase government investments in education.
poverty; public spending; multilevel regression analysis; Ideb