did you look into violin rental, rather than purchase?
my sister and i were both in the orchestra in elem school, and i remember they encouraged parents to rent the instruments for the first couple of years to see if the interest stuck. it was also a rent to own, so they would give a long term renter a significant discount on an instrument purchase. (and also assured that the kid was playing the right size)
my sister played 3rd grade - HS, and i think my mom bought the violin in 6th grade.
i played bass, which was owned by the school - 3rd -5th and gave it up in middle school because 2 years was enough.