Transition to higher education: aspirations of high school students from a public school

ABSTRACT

This paper discusses the results of a research that identifies and analyses projects and aspirations of the high school students from a state school located at the metropolitan region of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, regarding the continuation of their studies. We search to understand the ways in which school and families are present in the elaboration of the life projects. The discussion is based on data gathered through self-applied questionnaires taken by the students. We crossed the answer variable (whether the student intends to attend higher education) and variables related to ascription characteristics of the students, to their school trajectory, and to their family and school context. Based on the crossings, we selected the variables that indicated association with the answer variable and a model of logistic regression was estimated that intended to analyze the factors associated with the expectations of students to attend higher education. The findings indicated three characteristics that most distinguish the students in terms of aspirations of continuing their education: gender, family income and family support.

Keywords:
life projects; school aspirations; high school; higher education; public school