My son's teacher told me today that while he's happy to accelerate my son, that other teachers in our district will not do it because they refuse to do it with other gifted kids.
Ugh. This reasoning makes me crazy. I know you would prefer to switch schools, but you may need to work on two fronts at once. Have you asked your school if they have the IOWA acceleration scale? It has been a helpful tool for a lot of posters and their schools when they are discussing grade skipping. I understand it is a "points system" type questionnaire. I think it makes the process more rational and "normal".
I also wanted to ask about the 25 min commute to Menlo Park. That's a haul. Do you have the time? Would your other child commute as well? Could you eventually move closer to the school so you are the one commuting (alone) and the kids don't have to be in the car for so long?
FInally, Just a thought, I currently literally pay someone to take my child to school. It's kind of like a carpool, but I don't ever drive. The other family is driving in that direction anyway, so they are happy to defray their costs and I'm thrilled with my extra time. I'm not sure how that would play out in your situation, but just so you know another variation on the theme.
