The Occupational Proficiency Training Program (OPT) was initiated in Mitchell County High School, Georgia, to identify potential dropouts, place them in an alternative vocational education program, provide special communications and mathematics assistance, and maintain knowledge through recordkeeping of a student's progress through the program. Objectives of the OPT program were to decrease the dropout rate for these students, to increase achievement levels, and to reduce the retention of OPT students within grade levels in high school. The program was evaluated for four components: (1) a pretest-posttest analysis of student scores; (2) an examination of OPT students over time to identify patterns in academic performance, attendance rates, and dropout rates; (3) interviews to identify student and teacher attitudes toward the program; and (4) scores on the pretest used to develop a prediction equation for success in vocational education programs. The evaluation showed that, overall, the OPT program appeared to have consistently increased academic performance of the students in many areas and across grade levels. In addition, students in the OPT program increased their academic skills over the 3-year participation in the program. The study results also indicated that the program is effective in keeping OPT students in school longer than the comparable non-OPT group. Students were positive about the program, although they noted a negative attitude from non-OPT students. Most of the teachers interviewed described the overall worth of the program as excellent or good, although some thought it was too early to determine results. Overall, the OPT program was rated as successful for its ability to keep students in school where they can acquire employment skills. (KC)