Thanks for sharing the report card comments.
I wonder how well elementary school grades and standardized test scores (such as those required by NCLB) predict grades in middle and high school. Elementary school report cards have grades for achievement and conduct. Do the conduct grades have predictive power? There are numerous studies of how to predict college grades from high school grades and test scores, but I have not seen studies of students in lower grades.
We do talk to our son about the comments teachers make on his report cards and at parent conferences, but I doubt it has much effect. I think he just needs to grow up. One reason not to accelerate him further (he is one year young for his grade) is to give more time before 9th grade, when things count.