Unfortunately, the middle school for which DS is zoned is awful. I would not send him there for anything if I can possibly come up with an alternative (magnet school, private school, selling the house & moving). I am familiar with the high school, which is close by and not so bad.

You are right about the private school. I just met another mom recently whose son goes to one of the most expensive private schools in our metro area and that school absolutely does not differentiate math in middle school.