Could it be that he is trying to fit in so he is behaving like he sees others in his class behaving? A friend's DD observes her classmates and matches their level or competence to a T! She will get grades in the middle of the pack, will only read the stuff that they are reading and act as smart as the people she hangs out with are. She is a real chameleon because fitting in and not drawing attention to herself is so important to her.