Thank you for your sharing your thoughts/experiences while I was trying to decide. Here's an update. I thought some of you might be interested in finding out how DS8 (4th grade) is doing in middle school. So we decided, after much debating and talking to teachers/principals of both ES and MS, that the best option for DS is to bus to MS for math and science in the mornings so he is there half-time. He does some independent work for language arts (he has to do independent work because his 4th grade class does LA in the morning while he is in MS) and he is at his elementary school for all the fun and social stuff like lunch, recess, music, PE, computers. It turned out to be the right decision for us. He is flourishing!!! The middle school teachers have been phenomenal; very accepting and accommodating. DS LOVES learning algebra and high level science. His MS classmates are really mature. They don't treat DS any differently or are protective and nice; no bullying whatsoever. DS does not mind the long rides on the bus as he spends the time reading or doing HW. We're really lucky to be surrounded by such supportive educators and students. So the plan is to do this again next year (his ES goes K-5th) and then DS will probably bus to high school after that. I don't know if puberty will change things... We will find out. It's always an adventure with my unusual child!
