Often considered a "last resort placement," residential settings serve a broad range of children who present significant risks. While much is known about emotional and behavioral functioning, less is known about academic strengths and limitations. This study evaluated 127 children at intake into a residential care program to determine demographic, behavioral, mental health, and educational characteristics. Results indicated that children entering care present high levels of risk across domains. Primary risks were found on indicators of behavior (e.g., rule breaking, aggression), mental illness (e.g., disruptive behavior, anxiety), and academic performance (e.g., general knowledge, reading). Implications, limitations, and recommendations for future research are discussed. (Contains 3 tables.)