This is the tale of my two brother in laws. Same school system, the same activities, everything. One was challenged by his parents, went on to get a master's at MIT. The other one, the parents gave excuses for his laziness, got high daily in college and flunked out. It's not the school, it's the parents who make the kid.

Two kids I went to school with,(I went to a highly rated school) one graduated top 5, spent all his time in the music suite, went to Julliard; still at 38 years old playing gigs for near quarters in Manhattan. Another kid, graduated in the bottom half, didn't go to college, but had spent all his time in the business wing of the high school, started a concrete business at 18, and a real estate business a few years later; if I had to guess he makes more a day than the top 5 kid makes in a month.

I think the real key is to nurture your kid and find a house within budget; being stressed about money isn't good at all. Being able to save in your retirement plan, 529 plans, etc will pay off better than almost any public school compared to another.