My child would say that the downside is that he loves learning and is frustrated doing work more appropriate for him years ago than currently. He went to boarding school to be stretched academically, and when that happens, he is happy. When it doesn’t, he resents doing assignments that do not lead to any growth for him. I realize not all kids feel that way, but mine does.
@AppleNotFar I have not raised a transfer with her and will get a feel for things over Thanksgiving. That is not what we want of course but if she raises it I’m open to it. The number of comments on workload at other schools helps. Maybe there is not a school that is challenging in the level of work without the huge quantity of work. Any school that fits this description? For sophomore year her teachers said she would go straight to AP equivalent science and language at least, but there are no additional advanced options for this year. We urged her teachers during conferences to push her hard (er).
Does she have any free periods? If she does, perhaps she could start a new language or take an extra arts course next term, with the permission of the deans. Take into consideration the tendency of kids to “dump” their current worries and concerns on parents, then go their merry way. See how she’s feeling around midterms and then finals.
@Periwinkle those are good thoughts. She mentioned that she regretted not taking an extra arts class this term. As for worries, those are more mine than hers.