This thesis aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of education in Brazil, with a focus on the role of private sector. The historical evolution of the market is described together with Brazil's key challenges to tackle the education-related 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. The study tells a story of how formal education developed in Brazil and highlights the most important policies that influenced its path. The work sources quantitative data of enrollment statistics and student performance in national assessment tests to support is arguments, as well as qualitative insights drawn from academic literature and news articles. Reasons for the current increase in demand for private schooling are explored, as well as the impact of school types and locations on student educational performance.