Unconditional quantile decomposition of performance differentials between students from private and vocational public schools

Abstract

The article contributes to the literature by bringing new evidences on the performance differentials between high school students of vocational public schools and regular private schools. The empirical application is distinguished by applying unconditional quantile regression with the Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition. Private schools’ students were found to possess superior performance in all areas of the Enem examination, especially in writing, whose performance differentials ranged from 12% to 16% throughout the distribution. The decomposition of the effects indicated that schooling and parents’ earnings are very relevant to explain such differentials.