in my little NZ city middle school is the first time there is any gifted programming but it is for the top 15℅ based on one test so really it is a high achiever class. up until then he gets to test into a couple of pull out classes which he is doing now. As far as I know a number of the identified gifted kids have missed places through already being disengaged. I think I might have enjoyed high school academics if I had got them several years earlier and I don't think it would have been any worse socially.