pros and cons of academic talent search participation in middle school

My oldest tested into the program in our area back when he was in 8th grade. He took one class at a local college, but he wasn’t feeling it. He was my “one” that just rebelled at classroom learning every step of the way, although he did manage to graduate college in 4 years and is doing fine in life so I will give him that. The class he took he enjoyed because he took a lit class and he’s a reader. He liked the exposure to true discussion based education which is in short supply in public K-12. Because of him the next two boys refused to test in middle school even though they were invited.