Considerations on the impacts of family income and maternal education on Mathematics performance in the ENEM 2022

Abstract

This study is based on the assessment of students’ performance in Mathematics on the ENEM exam of 2022. Methodologically, the study will consist of the ENEM 2022 database; the selection of the variables used—administrative dependence, family income, and maternal education; and descriptive analyses, discussions, and interpretations of the results in relation to Brazilian society. It is observed that as family income and maternal education level increase, there is a tendency for scores to improve. In other words, the study highlighted that average scores are significantly higher among students whose mothers have a higher education degree, especially when combined with a high family income. For example, students whose mothers have only primary education tend to achieve average scores below 600 points, while those whose mothers have a higher education or postgraduate degree often surpass this threshold. These results confirm the hypothesis that these variables are significant for student performance, highlighting the influence of the family context on the educational process.