Most families find the Florida schools a value that they can’t pass up, or have paid for Florida Prepaid for 17 years and don’t want to give up the increase in value of the investment.
The high school my kids attended sent most of the graduates to UF, FSU, and UCF, but a fair amount to the other public schools in Florida too (FIU, FAU, North Florida). There were athletes and ROTC who went OOS, but I’d guess a good 90% of students who went to college stayed instate. No one considered the Val or Sal who went to UF as failures.
I agree…MA public schools (and the northeast in general) are at a very high level so it’s difficult to compare.
You are moving to a very expensive housing market. I’m not sure exactly where your husband will be working but you might want to consider living in southern NH. Exeter NH would be the public school I would suggest looking at.
I would not recommend Westford Academy (Westford’s public high school) to anyone. While the elementary schools in Westford are very, very good, the high school is a pressure cooker. It is not a happy place. Many students have been hospitalized for stress and mental health issues. Competition among the most intelligent students is fierce and some teachers take pride in making their courses (AP courses in particular) extremely difficult. It is as if they like to see students suffer. Kids can’t wait to graduate so they can get some sleep.
The high school administration rules with an iron fist and the town’s school department administration is quick to “circle the wagons” if anyone questions their practices. I would not advise anyone to send their child to Westford Academy, sad to say.