This work aims to study inequality existing between public and private educational institutions in Colombia, considering the high growth of private schools and the corresponding commodification of education in the neoliberal system. Tunja City is used as the case study because it has the highest academic achievement nationwide. A sample of 2,472 secondary school students (41.7 % private schools and 58.2% public schools) is used in 2018. This study evaluates the inequality existing in schools (Private and public) in terms of academic achievements. The relationship existing between the schools in terms of their cultural and socioeconomic resources with their students’ academic achievements is also investigated. It is found that there is a high homogeneity in the academic performances of both public and private schools. There is a significant difference between students with high performance and those with low performance. On the other hand, people with low social status cannot access standard private institutions.

Keywords: Inequality, social, educational assessment, culture, economy.