Hello M.,
My family moved to the Charlotte area 4 years ago. We had considered South Charlotte, as our employers were both located in this area, but we opted to move to Fort Mill, instead. We have 2 children, 2 and 10 at the time of our move, and the safety and education of our kids was our highest priority. We couldn't be happier with our choice. The Fort Mill school district is the best in the state and among the top 10 in the nation compared to districts with comparable demographics, size, etc. We feel safe here and we love the schools. The elementary school system in South Charlotte is OK, but the Middle Schools and High Schools leave much to be desired. The Charlotte school system has a new Superintendent, Peter Gorman, and he is doing a lot to help improve the schools. However, I imagine it will take some time to undo the damage that was caused over several years of mismanagement.
Fort Mill is just 15 - 20 minutes from downtown Charlotte. So the town is close enough to enjoy the opportunities that Charlotte presents, but you can get away form the hustle and bustle. I hope this information is useful. Good luck!