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We employed a comparative clinical approach to assess the psychological functioning of children between five and seven years of age (n=38) with behavioral disorders, who were observed within the school institution. On the basis of a battery of tests evaluating intellectual ability (Raven’s Matrices), degree of disturbance (Child Behavior checklist) and narrative quality (“Attachment Story Completion Task,” a semi-projective measure), the data for this category of students was compared to that of a control group (n=61). Compared to the clinical norm for this age group, our results reveal a specific psychological functioning and particular disturbances. The ensuing discussion opens up some potential options for intervention within this population, which amounts to some 200,000 children in France.