Would Math-U-See work for abstract thinkers?

[dragons in the flower bed]

My partner's son is 10. I'm looking at high school math levels now, trying to map out a sequence for him. It seems like Math-U-See with the honors courses are the most rigorous choice that I could personally teach, but I'm worried because manipulatives often confound him.

Are the manipulatives used heavily in the upper grades? Has anyone successfully used these with a very abstract thinker?