I'm sorry you had a bad experience. But long term do you think you would have been happier a year behind for the rest of your school years?

I quite like the idea of the second option but maybe with the option of choosing to move up to 9th after the first 6 weeks or back to 8th at any time if he chooses. He may find someone he really clicks with in the more advanced classes after all.

He obviously needs those more advanced classes though.