Is he an 8th grader or a 7th grader? If he's in 7th, you might want to consider getting in touch with the Carolyn D. Bradley scholarship folk who would help in selecting a high school: http://www.educationaladvancement.org/pages/programspages/cdbscholarship.html

Personally, the public school with the stronger music & academic programs sounds worth investigating to me. Private isn't necessarily better just b/c it is private.

Study Strategies for Accelerated Learners