Thank you everybody for your advice. It was very helpful. I think DS achievement tests are somewhat lower because his kindergarten and now first grade teachers were not crazy about parents teaching him something ahead of the school program. They felt that he would benefit more at moving along with his classmates so that he would be more engaged and learn more social stuff. He does have some problems with social interactions: while full of energy and very outgoing he does not have any friends - his interests are very different from theirs...
So, because of that 6-7 months ago we stopped doing brainquest flashcards (he loved it), explaining some math concepts etc. So whatever he learns he learns at school and by reading books from the library. However, I do not see that this approach is working: DS is really bored at school and socially he is drawn to older kids. I am pretty sure that if I start doing some extra teaching again DS would be able to move ahead very rapidly on his achievements. Unfortunately, it would mean a clean and irreversible break with his peers at class and with what they are learning.
And I am not sure that the folks at school would be too excited: they do not have anyone at his ES in the gifted program and his teachers tried to dissuade us from testing him. They changed their mind and started pushing for testing because they think that based on the test results they can start providing some special services to him to work on his writing - his handwriting is not great in terms of neatness and size, although not terrible.
So, I guess I would apply anyway and if he does not get in based on his achievement scores I would work with him and get him tested again in a half a year or so. I just hope via DYS to get him in touch with other kids with the same interests. We live in a neighborhood chocke full with kids of his age, but it does not really help. My wife's best friend has a kid his age who even goes to the same class and we had high hopes for their bonding together, but that boy really does not like my DS: he told his mom that he does not like him because DS is too smart... And so it goes.
Anyway, thanks for your responses. Very helpful.
