Connecticut is a grind because of the proximity to NYC and all the money that rolls in. It's a rat race. Different lifestyle down south. But as for schools, I had a step-niece who got all As at one of the best rated Florida public schools (USNews) who went to a public school in Fairfield Cty and suddenly became a C student. The students at that top Florida school were way behind the Conn. kids. She's a smart girl so she caught up after a year, but her parents tell me there is a huge difference between the schools. I would say that's true in a comparison between Clemson and UConn as well.
Not disagreeing totally with what you say
The story about your step-niece maybe true in her case but you can't paint every student with the same brush. Some kids need adjustment and that could have an affect on her grades
My wife and my daughter teach in public schools in CT and both have related stories that any of the kids they have that were/are recent transplants from the South are actually more fundamentally sound, overall, in the areas of writing and math because they received the basics and taught them down there. Up here in the North, they are too busy with teaching inclusiveness and other social crap and not taught how to sign/write cursive and basic non computer math skills. CT and it's towns spend way too much per student for the education of each child today - based on what the children are receiving in basic learning.
My best friend teaches in a prep school in Mass and he claims that the students from the south are not at all as they are labeled to be lagging behind.
As in Connecticut, there are areas in South Carolina that are not offering the best of education but do any of you think that those kids who go to public schools in Hartford, New Haven, Bridgeport and New Britain are better off? Yeah there are great schools and systems in CT - Hand, many in Fairfield County and the West Hartford/Glastonbury systems. But will they remain that way if the state pulls back all that money - in addition, those who go to these schools come from high income households which inherently creates scholastic competitiveness for college placement. There are areas in the South - Durham and Raleigh NC, Lexington, Spartanburg, Charleston and areas around Columbia SC where there are great public/district school systems
The advantage CT has over most Southern states is the fact that rural areas in CT are all higher populated and have more professionals and technology - The South, overall is still more agriculturally inclined.
Right now the South is better for retirees and some cases, young folks starting out in the business world (less competition).
Clemson vs UConn - not sure
USCarolina vs UConn maybe
The South isn't as great overall as SC Husky is stating but it's not as bad as some on here are arguing against him
It is that old RE adage in both places - location location location - The Northeast is still more industrialized than the South and the competition is keener
I have no idea how I got into this!!!!????