Scores on the Wechsler Individual Achievement Test (WIAT), the Diagnostic Achievement Battery (DAB-2) and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-III), were compared for 58 students assessed for placement in exceptional education. Primary questions concerned (a) the relationships among WIAT, DAB-2, and WISC-III scores, (b) similarities and differences between the WIAT and the DAB-2 scores, and (c) comparison of all scores by race and gender. Comparisons of WISC-III full scale IQs and respective WIAT and DAB-2 Total Achievement Scores fell in the predicted range. Mean comparisons of similar scales on the WIAT and DAB-2 indicated that all WIAT scales yielded higher scores, and that the WIAT Total Achievement score was significantly higher than its DAB-2 counterpart. Mean comparisons of WISC-III IQs, WIAT, and DAB-2 scores, respectively, by race and gender found no significant differences on the WISC-III, two differences by gender on the WIAT, and one difference by race on the DAB-2. These results question the comparability of the WIAT and the DAB-2 and suggest that for these groups, race and gender were relatively unimportant in classifying exceptional students. Even though no significant differences were obtained between racial groups, African-American students were portrayed as being more at risk for academic failure. It is important then, that school psychologists be sensitive to the characteristics of local populations and avoid stereotypical preconceptions regarding expected performance on achievement and ability measures. (Contains 13 references and 4 tables.) (GCP)