I usually read way higher than my grade level during most public school.
One reason I think some of the local high and mighty eggheads that ran the didn’t care for me much. I got bounced from gifted to some special needs sort of thing up until junior high. I guess the other side of the coin is they didn’t know what to do with me. It wasn’t like I was asked for my opinion that often.
In reality, that sheltering may have had some benefit, but it also made them a target. They were relentlessly pursued by the burnouts.
The reality, of course, is the burnouts wound up living in a van down by the river and the 'bright' kids usually did ok.
But it wasn't because of the school.
I quit the talented and gifted program back in the early 80’s because it was indoctrination not education.
Like you the teachers didn’t know what to do with me.
I tested as having a college reading level in the 4th grade.
First week of Freshman English we were given a list of books. We had to pick one book to read for the first quarter (9 weeks) and give weekly written reports. I chose Moby Dick because I had watched the movie from the 1950’s.
The teacher pulled me aside and asked if I knew how many pages the book was. She said it’s a really long book. I replied “no problem”. The next week I turned in my report and when she read it she asked me “How far along are you”? I told her “About halfway, this is a great book”! She was stunned.
I finished it before the next week. She let me read my Sci-Fi books as long as I didn’t disturb the other students. I got an A that quarter.