Grade 5 is very advanced for middle school, especially since this is only his 3rd year!
Let me amend that I asked the band director what level music I should be buying for My DS for individual work (solo and ensemble adjudication as well as for fun) 4 and 5 was for him alone. I bet his band is 3.and a few 4 pieces for challenge.
I bet when he auditions for high school he won't be in the lowest group. He is probably a bit ahead of some of the other but as a whole their school is advanced. It is by audition (although you don't have to be playing in 5th grade) and they have a 20% population of gifted kids (which is high for here).
