I also think you have to look at the town. My family is in a small school district where MS sports are made up of kids who are there to be babysat for an hour after school. The coaches are unqualified for the most part. In 7th grade the girls lax coach never played lax and didn't even take the time to do some research and learn. So in our case in made sense to take the opportunity to move up. For us it has worked out very well. My daughter learned a lot, and gained confidence, now she is committed and happy. I say to each his own on this subject. As an aside we have had some very bright students take a math class at the high school while in the middle school. One that I know of will be attending MIT. Should we have held him back from fulfilling his potential?