Gifted math student

I have an 8 year old son who is a bit of a math prodigy. We're
currently working our way through an algebra text.

On his own, he discovered some number theorems, e.g., x-1 times x+1 =
x2 minus one.

His public school is trying to help but I think they're more interested
in rasing the minimum achievenment of the average student, rather than
trying to help the high end of the bell curve.

They are also somewhat fixated on his mastering the standard curriculum
and seem to get off when he doesn't know something from the standard
curriculum, mostly because he hasn't been exposed to it or the
terminology is unfamiliar to him. Remember, this is a child who when he
was younger worked out his own methods for doing two and three digit
multiplication in his head.

My feeling is that the standard curriculum is somewhat beside the
point. What's really important is that he exercise his math muscle, so
to speak, irrespective of the content.

Although I think his inclinations would be towards number theory, so
I'd be interested if there would be some intro text to number theory
that might be appropriate for a talented child. He's enjyoying the Math
Charmers book for recreational reading.

I'd be interested in any other thoughts about how to work with him. I
wonder if math competitons, if they existed for his age, would provide
some focus.

I'm concerned that in a few years he'll be beyond my ability to help
him. I'm not saying he's another Srinivasa Ramanujan, but I'd like to
see how far he can go and not have his school experience be a
hinderance. The district math supervisor met with him and was impressed
but I think his job is more dependent on helping the average student
than the gifted.

.