ABSTRACT There is a high prevalence of dyslipidemia in adolescence. The aim of this study was to determine the lipid profile of adolescents and associated factors. We conducted a cross-sectional study with male and female adolescents from public and private schools in Teresina, aged 14 to 19 years. Body mass index (BMI) z-score was obtained and adjusted for age, in addition to waist circumference (WC) percentile values. Lipid profile was determined by enzymatic colorimetric method; LDL-C was calculated. The statistical tests Mann-Whitney U, Student's t, and odds ratio were used. The sample was comprised of 327 adolescents with a mean age of 16.5 years, 59.6% were female and 65.7% from public schools. The prevalence of dyslipidemia was 85.6%, especially hypoalphalipoproteinemia. TG levels were significantly higher and HDL levels were lower among participants who attended public schools (P< 0.05). BMI and WC were associated with dyslipidemia; a higher mean BMI and overweight was observed in girls with dyslipidemia. In the adjusted regression, being from a public school increased the odds for low HDL-C and dyslipidemia, while overall higher BMI and abdominal excess weight represented a risk for higher triglycerides. Thus, overweight increased the chances of hypertriglyceridemia and studying in a public school increased the odds for dyslipidemia and hypoalphalipoproteinemia.