This paper presents the results of an exploratory study on student retention in early elementary school. We investigated the relationship between social background and risk of retention by a logistic regression model (risk of retention model), using data from 5th grade students in the Brazilian Assessment of Educational Progress (Prova Brasil), math section, in 2009. The study found that boys are more likely than girls to repeat math classes. Also, attending pre-school, doing homework and having support from family are facts associated with a decrease in retention levels.
retention; assessment in Mathematics; Brazilian Assessment