This is common in public schools; private schools are more open to grade skipping.
Ex. Last year I was frustrated with my son's situation and called a public school that's down the road from us about a mile. We're just outside the boundaries for this school, but we're close, and I'd been told it was a great school. I talked to the principal and he told me he was against the idea on principle. He didn't ask about my son's academic abilities, but he did make sure to ask if I let him play outside and implied that I was doing nothing but forcing him to learn mathematics and spelling. Argh.
Val
