Educational achievement of pupils attending primary schools are different depending on the type of school they attend. This paper examines how these achievements vary by school type and the role that school inputs play in pupils' educational achievement. Using data from the Young Lives project, this study finds that while individual and household characteristics the children enrol into school with are key drivers of educational achievement, school factors explain a large share of the educational achievement gaps of primary school pupils in Ethiopia. This paper concludes that targeted policies which aim to reduce individual and household gaps prior to primary school enrolment are very important but more importantly policies that encourage an enabling environment for quality learning to thrive will also play an important role in improving learning outcomes for primary school children in Ethiopia.