NC vs Mass. Middle/High Schools -- hoping NC is less demanding (Charlotte: middle school)

[BishBash]

I have two kids in middle school in suburban Massachusetts, and they're getting buried with work. Supposedly Mass. has some of the best test scores and highest expectations in the nation, and my family is feeling it.

We have bright kids (age 10 and 12), and we won't sell them short, but we need more balance. I went to school in NY and took the state Regents exams 20 years ago, but in Mass., there is way too much "teaching to the test" and cramming too much into the school day.

Has anyone moved from Mass. to the C-M district or nearby counties who can relate their experience with a NC schools? I'm sure there are big differences between districts in greater Charlotte and even York, SC, but I'm curious about state requirements which put pressure on kids, teachers and districts. I don't want to be in this situation again.

I posted this on the general NC list with little interest, hoping to get an answer here since we may end up in greater Charlotte.

thanks

[LLN]

I review exhaustively standardized test questions from many states, 8th grade math. I have found the NC end of grade test, at least 8th grade math, is VERYVERYVERY similar to the Mass tests. In fact, I have commented to many folks, including I suspect on this forum, the similarity. SO...I would deduce from this that the EXPECTATIONS are similar, but it may be possible that across the board we don't score as well. I do not know that. I just look for questions.

Here is a link to NC EOG (end of grade test, if you care)

Accountability Services

Good Luck.