In this study the determinants of academic performance is analyzed by comparing the results of the mathematical knowledge test Saber 11 of eleventh grade students of the regions with higher and lower levels of socioeconomic development in Colombia. The main objective of this research is to determine the factors influencing academic performance of secondary education, comparing regions under development and economic growth regions more favorable socioeconomic contexts. The methodology was developed through the application of a combined model cutaway which allows the individual to analyze combinations of units of study temporal, cross-sectional units for the study period 2008-2013. The results show that there are significant differences between the determinants of academic performance in regions with higher and lower levels of socioeconomic development. The personal characteristics of students, such as age and ethnicity, as well as school characteristics have a greater impact on students of regions of lower development; meanwhile, other determinants related to family and household characteristics such as parental education, technological accessibility and household incomes, have a greater impact on the academic performance of students in regions with higher levels of socioeconomic development.