What's the landscape ahead look like for middle school and high school?

I'd be inclined to look elsewhere for challenge--music, drama, another area of interest?--or do informal afterschooling. Or....try to advocate a little more in school. I haven't done CTY with my kid, but it seems like a lot to ad don top of regular school unless the workload is very light. That's a really high GAI, though so I'd be concerned about just going on as usual.