This study explored some of the factors that explain school performance. To attain this, Chilean students' profiles of eighth year of primary school were identified and characterized (13.65 year old mean/DS 0.74). This was done according to their academic performance in the History, Geography and Social Sciences test, and the context variables. The database was provided by the Sistema de Medicion de la Calidad de la Educacion de Chile (Simce). The study was conducted by means of a predictive correlational quantitative design, using a classification and regression tree (cart). Parents' high educational expectations are the most important distinguishing factor in school performance. The results are discussed in relation to previous research about these topics.