Hate to say it but it could be the teacher. I taught public school for many years. I've seen perfectly bright capable kids fail because the teachers had some notion that completing a worksheet equated with learning. They were required to get 9 grades per quarter and so they did come hell or high water.
Maybe you could talk with her about the purpose of grades; which is to measure what a child has learned not to satisfy some district requirement. If she wants to I'd bet she could give him alternative assignment grades, do oral classwork grades, demonstration grades ect. The choices are endless. I mean frankly he may just not like the presentation or method of learning going on in the classroom so doesn't perform well.
I agree very sad.
