I skipped a grade (middle of third to middle of fourth) and the only regret I had was my parents not having done it when I was younger...By 4th grade, many friendships had been formed, and I was considered an "outsider." (Of course, I was so advanced compared to the 3rd graders I'd left, that I didn't really have any close friends there, either.)
Once I got to high school, and people didn't know my background, I was able to "blossom" and nobody made a big deal out of my being younger, except when other kids were taking driver's ed, and I had to explain why I wasn't. Some of my best friends, even to this day, were friends I made in my H.S. Honors classes.

I know not everyone agrees with me, and here's a recent discussion where some other people tried to express their views: community.greatschools.net/q-and-a/231816/How-can-my-daughter-skip-a-grade

When I started school in the 50's in the Chicago public schools, they had a half-grade system. So some kids would start kindergarten in the fall, as now, in Kindergarten A. Mid year, they were "promoted" to Kindergarten B. And the kids 6 months younger would be starting school mid-year in Kindergarten A. Everyone would be advancing 1/2 year at a time all through 8th grade. I don't remember what would happen in HS.

One of the advantages of this system, was that it wasn't such a big deal to skip or be retained only a half grade. For instance, my sister skipped a half grade. But then, in those days, schools weren't so nervous about skipping in general.

I believe that this system changed around 1960. I'm sure that the logistics of such a system was more difficult for both the schools and working parents, especially in smaller schools.

I did not want then to skip in grades 1-8th even though they could have. It was offered twice for both of our girls. We said no because we feel that all grades at this level is important.
Instead we asked for more from there teachers. If this option is for them then they can get it back in highschool. So when our girls was in 7th & 8th grade they were doing highschool assignments which gave them highschool credits, so they did get the option in highschool, My 16 year old is a senior now. ( she skipped freshman year) my 18 year old sophomore in college (she skipped her sophomore year of highschool). We said they were ready now. The teachers challenged then and they responded well . Both did highschool within 3 years.

Acceleration is a big decision but there is an Iowa Acceleration Scale which is a research backed tool to identify successful candidates for such an accomodation. Also google A Nation Deceived;How
Schools Hold Back America's Best Students. Among much pertinent information, there is a list of myths associated with reluctance to accelerate .

Here, the educational establishment is totally against it. My 5th child was reading at the 3rd grade level when she entered kindergarten. The principal told me that in his 10 years at the school, they had skipped 4 children and 3 of those were mistakes. This was in a school where there are two classes of developmental kindergarten and two classes of transitional first, both excellent ways of holding kids back. We had to take her out of school before Christmas and home schooled her for the rest of kindergarten,followed by 7 years in private school. In 7th grade, she told me, "Mommy, I want to home school next year because I can learn more." After one year of home schooling and one of home schooling with a few courses at the community college, she left for college and graduated Cum Laude at age 18.

Thank you for your experience insight on this subject. It was very helpful to know that you chose to homeschool your daughter and this proved very successful for her. Thank you.

Change is difficult and many families do not want to go through extra stress. To skip a grade is not the norm. Many people have not seen it before, they heard about the negatives, and refuse to research for the positives.

Some school districts are afraid of the unknown and lack of funding for educational materials and manpower. They secretly confess the time and money it will take to educate these children when they are struggling with the increase number of children with disabilities. I think some schools districts are right because in most cases only public schools ( government: YOU) can help the children with special needs.

My daughter skipped second grade and i made the decision based on what I thought was right for her and family. She is a Fourth grader and excel in everything.
My younger sister skipped 6th grade and she is a high school teacher. She spent almost six in an oil company as a marketing officer and left for a "beloved" teaching career .

I hope your question is answered.

Why would you want to rush a kid out in to the real world faster than you have to?
Socially, they need to fit in and academically, if they are in a good school with TAG (Talented and Gifted) support, they don't need to move ahead. Let them grow up at the speed they are supposed to grow up at!

jstani's response conflicts with 50 years of research compiled by world renown experts and available on your computer by googling A Nation Deceived: How America's Schools Hold Back its Best Students. Acceleration is the most positively backed curricular intervention for advanced learners. The more recents tudy, High Achievers in an Era of NCLB, also available by googling, would lead one to believe TAG support may well be insufficient. As for growing up, even the author of The Hurried Child, David Elkind, agrees with accelerating gifted students. My daughter could not find a peer group until she was accelerated .In fact, it seems nearly a contradiction in thought to deny an appropriate candidate acceleration. After all, aren't giftd kids advanced by definition? Some require access to content generally associated with older students if they are to learn and not just produce good standardized test scores for the school without making adequate growth. Parents who speak and act without knowledge hurt their child and misinform other parents. The parents of the gifted must educate themselves when policy makes their child extraneous to the classroom. The resistance to accelerate is a tragedy and parents should be adamant that their child's education is made meaningful.

I whole heartedly agree!! My son should have skipped the 3rd grade, he far surpassed the academic requirments but the principle told me they have major testing in the 3rd grade that determines the amount of money the school gets from the govt. and they needed his superior scores. So unfair to hold my child back for "politics" and money.

I'm assuming your child is in the Albuquerque public school system. Our daughter took the test for the "Gifted and Talented" students back when she was in first grade, and we were asked if we wanted to have her skip a grade or two. We chose instead to enroll her in the full-time gifted program, which worked out very well for her. I know of two other kids in her grade level now that have skipped a grade, so I haven't seen any reluctance to skip students anywhere here! Did you have your child tested? That would be the first step.

Charter Montessori will get your kid's needs met without the expense of a private education...if they are 6th grade or less. Late answer but posted anyway for discussion's sake.