Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Learning Environments Which middle school? Need plenty of advice!

Agree that the cranky principal sounds very odd and off putting and I think you're right to strike that one off your list.
I did not mean to say that it's right for kids to feel "less than" because they are not in AIG classes, and it does warrant a harder look at the school culture, great if you can speak to experienced parents. However, if you ask me, it is probably parents themselves perpetuating that kind of thing, and a healthy family culture of valuing various achievements and at the same time offering unconditional love will go a long way to counteract that....plus, it's a big school. Hard to create a uniform school culture across grades and classes.
Anyway, I did suggest following your children's lead and that would be the GT
Magnet anyway. You wrote good things. About their school culture - very safe, little bullying etc.
I confess I would be a bit worried about language arts and the "needing to work with people at all levels" statement. Nope, from a certain point onwards, you will work with people mostly at your level...other people will work for you.