The study was designed to investigate selected variables of handicapped students who complete or drop out of vocational education programs by (1) describing the characteristics of handicapped students in vocational education programs and (2) analyzing variables which may contribute to discriminating between those students who complete all requirements, complete less than all requirements or drop out of vocational education programs. Selected variables regarding handicapped and non-handicapped students who were enrolled in vocational education programs in West Virginia during 1981-82 were obtained. Subjects consisted of all handicapped students (N=2604) and a randomly selected sample of non-handicapped students (N=3679). Descriptive statistical procedures and a stepwise discriminant analysis of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences were utilized to accomplish the analysis. Results indicated that the typical handicapped student was mentally retarded and more than likely enrolled in a Trade and Industrial occupations curriculum. In addition, the handicapped student could best be described as a Caucasian male who was between the ages of 16 and 18 and was enrolled in a curriculum designed for the handicapped. As a result of the stepwise discriminant analysis, two functions containing 15 variables were generated. Those variables most significantly contributing to discrimination between students who drop out and students who complete all requirements were (1) enrollment in an Office Occupations program, (2) enrollment in a Trade and Industrial Occupations program, (3) enrollment in an Agriculture program, (4) presence or absence of a handicapping condition, and (5) participation in a vocational education program within Region 2. (Author/CL)