Studies have investigated factors that impede enrolment in Honduras. However, they have not analysed individual factors as a whole or identified the relationships among them. This study used longitudinal data for 1971 children who entered primary schools from 1986 to 2000, and employed structural equation modelling to examine the factors themselves as well as the relationships between their components and educational attainment. Findings indicate that reduced educational attainment is not necessarily the result of repetition or dropout. Low educational attainment occurs due to impediments in access to school, absenteeism, or overage, as this leads to a child suddenly leaving school.