I knew about the phenomenon of a "gap year" but THIS was a new one for me. Anyone encountered this? [View all]

[RockRaven]

A relative of mine is having their kid take a gap year. But instead of it being between high school and college, this kid is taking a gap year between 8th grade and high school.

This is the first time I have heard of someone delaying the start of high school without a significant medical, financial, social, or educational reason. Although not their words exactly, they seem to be doing this "just because." When making small talk about it, their explanation was super-vague/nebulous and I didn't want to create awkwardness by digging into it.

There isn't an issue with the high school -- he'll be going to the same good public high school in their affluent suburb that his older siblings went to. He isn't developmentally behind -- he's healthy, tall for his age, bright, socially engaging, active in athletics and other hobbies. And he isn't doing anything of note with the year off -- no travel plans, no new cultural experience plans, no work plans. His plans for the year were no different than his 8th grade year, but without school.

At first I thought maybe there was a reason which was just being kept private, but more than half-way through the school year and I haven't heard a peep about him going anywhere or doing anything noteworthy, nor of him being unwell in any way. It is looking like it really was "just because"-ish.

Is this the front end of an impending trend which I'm unaware of, or is this as random/aberrant as it seems to me?