Another possibility I thought of yesterday was to have him go from grade 5 this year directly into grade 7 at his former Montessori school. This would be a different teacher from the 4-6 teacher that didn't "get" him, would be a more challenging cirriculum, and would include neat things like a one week canoe trip and learning to cook. Also, there would only be about 5 other kids in the group, since the junior high program in French is just starting out there. After grade 7 in the "unconventional" school, I'd think about having him do grade 7 again in the very academic school I was originally planning on for 7th.

Is this too wierd -- no grade 6 and two years of grade 7?

Not sure if the Montessori would consider putting him directly in 7th, but I think I could make a good argument for it at least and see what they say.