...they do have several students who have been skipped immediately, and some who go to diff classes depending on need. They try to look out for each child...
To me, it sounds like school #1 does not need a GATE program because what they are already doing is even better. Treat the child as an individual, and move/skip them around as needed.
Our DD went to a private school that sounds like #1, and she thrived because of small class size, individualized curriculum, and a willingness to do whole grade acceleration.
Just my 2 cents.
--S.F.
