I'm home schooling Michael again. We put him in a charter school for a month or so. Yesterday was out first "official" day back to home school (meaning that I was finally able to get up the nerve to call the school after being out over a week.) Michael started teaching himself to read shortly after turning two. We were impressed and happy for his interest, although this came with some inconvenience. Up until he started to crack the code my mom was able to "read" signs at parks, restaurants, and grocery stores. With disappointment in her voice she'd let Michael know that the park was closing now, or that the candy aisle was, sadly, closed for repair. Although I fancy that my parenting style is generally more honest and direct than that of my parents I'll admit to using this technique a few times early on  to take the easy way out and avoid a meltdown.  By two he could read simple words like "Open," "Welcome," and "Please take One." He  started to ask for proof of the off limits candy, the closed store, or the park's odd lunchtime closure.  He was on to us. Somewhere during that time my Uncle John gave us a computer and someone bought a Reader Rabbit game. It happened fast.  He was motivated. I can't remember him spending much time teaching himself the basics- he read The Cat in the Hat by three. He now reads adult level material with a speed an accuracy that surpasses his dad and I in our tired moments. 

If a high intellectual capacity, enthusiasm and precocious ability were the only factor in school success Michael would be fine. We could happily enroll him in our local public school and drop him off each day, lunch box in hand and ready to learn. I was a public school teacher for ten years, though, and I can say with a certainty of someone with experience in the trenches that academic ability is a small piece of the public grade school pie.