Our two made it through public elementary without acceleration, though we do have a (quite limited) pull-out program. Overall, it was least-worst for us. My DD had 2 years which were not good, but they were interspersed with very good years, mainly teacher-dependent. Personality played a role for us; my DD Is a kid who devises self-challenges wherever she goes, and that is primarily how she got through. (She is the kind of kid who would take the lame spelling list and try to devise a coherent, concise short story using all the words, sometimes in order, etc.).
My younger son too a spelling list and tried to include brownies in each sentence he had to write (second grade words). I asked why he did that and he said because he really wanted brownies.
