When it comes down to it - it's all about the classroom teachers. The other school may well be better than the school that claims to be HG if it is more flexible, and 'sees' your son's actual readiness level and educational needs.
Spend time inside a classroom at the HG school. Do not listen to what they tell you on 'Parent Tours.' Observe the teachers, and how the students interact. Does the kid who asks the 'deep' question get ridiculed?
One of the questions I would have is 'how high does the school go up to?' as you may run out of room to go 'up to' if your affordable school only goes up to 5th grade, for example.
Sounds like both schools are worth looking at. I would strongly push for a gradeskip NOW, as your child most likely already has a huge dislike for school, and 3 months is 'forever' in the mind of a child. You can always 'decelerate' next September when you start over at a new school.
Even better, will either school allow you to move him over NOW. That way you can 'try before you buy' in committing to a full year of tuition payments.
If 'other school' regularly pulls kids out of grade for reading and Math, that's great. If they are 'brainstorming' just for you - get it in writing before you sign that contract.
Love and More Love,
Grinity
