THe other thing that comes to mind is something I read in "Re-forming gifted education." You can have two kids w/ identical IQs but they need very different programs. One kid needs fast-paced, accelerated programming. The other needs a slower-paced, time for deep-thinking, pondering, pursuing subjects in depth. Those 2 kids will not thrive in each other's programs. IF your son is the latter but this school is the former, that might be the mis-match.