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This is a great story. Too many times, these students who are academically ahead in years have problems adapting socially. These parents seem to have their feet on the ground and handled their son with care and wisdom. Sounds like he's not only intelligent but normal. Good on all of them!

I like Marvin Minsky's comments on schooling. Minsky helped create the field of AI, and is a genius himself -- computer science professor, inventor, pianist, chess player, writer, and opera composer. I was fortunate to work with him at MIT back in the '70s.

... many of our foremost achievers developed under conditions that are not much like those of present-day mass education. Robert Lawler just showed me a paper by Harold Macurdy on the child pattern of genius. Macurdy reviews the early education of many eminent people from the last couple of centuries and concludes (1) that most of them had an enormous amount of attention paid to them by one or both parents and (2) that generally they were relatively isolated from other children. This is very different from what most people today consider an ideal school. It seems to me that much of what we call education is really socialization. Consider what we do to our kids. Is it really a good idea to send your 6-year-old into a room full of 6-year-olds, and then, the next year, to put your 7-year-old in with 7-year-olds, and so on? A simple recursive argument suggests this exposes them to a real danger of all growing up with the minds of 6-year-olds. And, so far as I can see, that's exactly what happens.
Our present culture may be largely shaped by this strange idea of isolating children's thought from adult thought. Perhaps the way our culture educates its children better explains why most of us come out as dumb as they do, than it explains how some of us come out as smart as they do.

YOu had made the statement that students like this young fellow who were ahead academically have problems adapting socially. I am sure you personally have knowledge of individuals yourself who fall into this catagory, am I correct? If not, what is your source of information. YOu see, I know over 100 families who all homeschool with advanced children not unlike this young man and you know what is funny? NOT EVEN ONE OF THEM HAS ANY SOCIAL ADAPTATIONAL SKILLS, NO NOT EVEN ONE. YOur statement just made me wonder if you know any of these kids who might have the adapation problems you mentioned.
I read the funniest article the other day. People are always trying to use the old "socialization" issue (it's been beaten to death). When I look back at the public school's idea of socialization, I try to figure out what they mean. How many times did you try to socialize when you were in school, only to have your hands rapped with a ruler to be quiet? NO talking in line, no talking in class. Actually, the only time I can remember socializing at all was at recess, and that was only for 20 minutes.
Homeschoolers have the most wonderful ability to adapt to any environment or people, because, unlike public schools, our kids live in the real world.
I don't mean to rant, I just wanted to point this out.
Bless you.