Thinking of flying South along with the birds this winter? Then consider heading for the blue skies of the sweet Carolinas where homes are more affordable, the dollar stretches further, and our residents enjoy a great quality of life with access to a variety of sports, culture, arts, and entertainment!
For families with school-age children, making a decision on where to buy should always include a good hard look at the local school district. Strong schools provide opportunities and stability for the community and that’s good for the property values of everyone living nearby. According to an article on Realtor.com, home buyers are willing to sacrifice certain items to live in a better school district. One of five buyers would be willing to give up an extra bedroom or garage in exchange for a better school and one of three would buy a smaller home to end up in the right district. Buyers are also willing to put their money where their mouth is. One out of five would pay between six and ten percent above their budget for the right school and one of 10 would pay up to 20 percent. Coveted school districts draw buyers who greatly value education and tend to have more parent involvement and financial support, a greater variety of programs, stellar sports offerings and higher test scores attracting the best teachers and administrators meaning your child has access to a better education.
State and federal laws require public schools to release report cards each year and both North and South Carolina have websites that are fantastic resources for comparing and contrasting districts and schools. While they won’t provide rankings, they will give you detailed statistics on things like school and class sizes, student, teacher and school performances, academic growth, teacher and principal qualifications, experience and turnover rates, student attendance, test scores and graduation rates as well as information about health and nutrition, access to technology, school safety and how funding is allocated.
Lucky for y’all, the schools in the Leigh Brown & Associates service areas are some of the best! Based on statistics and opinions from students and parents, Niche gives the Cabarrus County School District an above average rating of B+ and ranks it #11 of 116 districts in the state. Serving over 30,000 students in 39 schools with a student-teacher ratio of 15:1, the district has a graduation rate of 90% and high marks for school attendance and safety, student performance, college readiness and teacher experience.
Just over the border in South Carolina, the highly rated and fast-growing Fort Mill School District serves over 12,000 students in grades PK – 12. With a student-teacher ratio of 15:1, a graduation rate of 92% and high proficiency test scores in both math and reading, Niche gives it an A in everything from academics to teachers, clubs and activities, college prep and health and safety and ranks it #2 of 81 in the list of best school districts in South Carolina.
So if you are considering flying south, take a few minutes to check out these websites to see the amazing opportunities these schools can provide for your children. Then give us a call and one of our fabulous realtors will help you find the best nest for your family.