If you choose to go to private until age 8, can you still request testing in public school at that time and make a switch if they provide a good option for you? Or does your DD attend to the school to be tested?

As Quantum2003 mentioned, going to private school and switching to public school when gifted program is available is very common scenario. That's our plan too. My son (1st grader) will be tested this year and if he is accepted into the gifted program, we will switch to public school.