I just thought of another question for you all. When viewing the GT classes, what types of student/teacher behavior should I be looking for (other than the complete opposite of what he has now in class)?
Regarding this question, PG students are supposed to be given more autonomy because they are self-driven learners, so I'd look for students working with each other or on their own in different parts of the room while the teacher makes rounds to offer guidance. A teacher lecturing probably is not a good sign.
I don't think this is an across-the-board accepted best method for HG or PG kids. They all learn differently. In my area, there are several schools for HG kids, and they each have their own philosophies about how to teach the kids. There is one school that is great for kids who are more independent and motivated learners that sounds like the description you give, with fewer lectures and more autonomy. That type of school would not be great for my kiddo, who likes to learn in a group. The HG school my son attends provides accelerated work (faster pace and more advanced), plus different groups for reading, but it is generally more like a traditional classroom (though the work is challenging). It's a great fit for my son, but it's not for everyone. There is another school that believes in advancement only to a point - they don't believe you should go further than what they offer, and they direct people who want to move faster to go to the more independent school.
So I guess my point is that you'll want to observe the school with your kiddo's learning style in mind. Maybe ask questions about how much group and independent work there is.
Also, since you mention that the magnet has a GT program but also regular classrooms, how is that arranged for non-academic classes? Are the GT kids always separate, or do they get to interact with the other classrooms (for things like music, band, gym, etc.) When I toured my son's school-within-a-school program, some of the kids wished that they could spend time with the kids in the other classrooms, since they're pretty isolated with their own GT class all day.
