Like you, I took an IQ test early on. They didn't tell us what it was. I scored very high (genius level).

Math always came easy to me, for some reason.

In 5th grade, our math teacher died during the year, and they brought in a substitute, who was not good at math. She often asked me if she was doing the problem on the blackboard the right way (lol).

By 7th grade, I was the top math student in the top math class in the top school district in the top state of the union. They were an advanced school district trying out new ideas. Those of us in the highest level math class were learning calculus in 7th grade.

In 8th grade, my family moved to a different state, which was decent overall, but a smaller town that did not have the resources or vision.

First day, 8th grade math teacher introduced me to the class (we moved mid-year), then had me go into his office to take a math test to evaluate where I was.

I breezed through the test in about 2 minutes. I aced it. He was shocked. He then left and came back with another test for me. I took that one, and aced it very quickly, too.

He was almost speechless. He said the first test was the 8th grade final exam, and the second test was the 12th grade final exam.

He said I already knew everything they would teach me in their school district through 12th grade, but math was required by the state, so I had to take their low-level math classes.

Did not learn anything in math until college (and not even then, really). But I got all A's. Easy peasy.

I found out years later that the school told my parents I should enroll in some college courses, but it was not in the budget.

It sucks for kids who struggle to be in classes with smarter kids, but it also sucks for smarter kids to be stuck in meaningless classes with other kids.

Public education is more destructive than it is advantageous.

ALL education should be private and/or home school so kids can learn at their own pace.