Many potential dropouts have problems coping with the formal and impersonal structure of most high schools. In response to this, an effort was made to create an alternative, more supportive, organizational structure featuring participative management in the Louisiana State Youth Opportunities Unlimited (LSYOU) program. Program teachers, tutors, and counselors underwent inservicing in a counseling curriculum (Quest Skills for Living). All class sizes were limited to 13 with a tutor and teacher in each class, students and staff were involved in nonacademic activities, and student input and autonomy were maximized in the program. The program was designed to facilitate the acquiring of coping skills. The Profile of Schools (POS) survey and local questionnaires were administered to test whether students perceived the program as exhibiting an alternative organizational structure. Students identified as potential dropouts were assigned to treatment and control groups and administered the POS as a pretest and posttest. Results showed that the LSYOU program was perceived as having organizational characteristics of the participative management style and that the program significantly positively impacted certain academic and affective skills. It is hypothesized that this increase in skills will reduce alienation among this at-risk group, thus reducing their chances of dropping out of school. (ABL)