This study aims to investigate the causal influence of family structure on the academic performance of 5th-grade elementary students, while also exploring additional factors that could potentially impact this relationship. To achieve this, it uses propensity score matching, based on data from the Brazilian Basic Education Assessment System (Saeb) for the year 2019. The results demonstrate a significant positive difference in academic performance among students residing in biparental households compared to those living with only one parent. Regardless of contextual backgrounds, the positive impact of having both parents on academic performance remains consistent, except when grandparents also reside with the students. Therefore, this study underscores the critical role of family composition in shaping school performance, emphasizing the importance of implementing strategies aimed at mitigating the adverse effects of single-parent household structures on learning outcomes, as these have the potential to influence a broad spectrum of future socioeconomic outcomes.
Garcia et al. (Wed,) studied this question.