2025 Compare Cities Education:
Highlands Ranch, CO vs Merced, CA

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Highlights
- Merced spends 12.9% more per student than Highlands Ranch.
- The Student Teacher Ratio is 26.0% higher in Merced than in Highlands Ranch. (lower means fewer students in each classroom).
- Merced had 24.9% fewer residents who had graduated High School compared to Highlands Ranch
 Highlands Ranch, COMerced, CAUnited States
 Expend. per Student  Unlock$14,332$15,905
 Educ. Expend. per Student$10,748  Unlock$13,142
 Instr. Expend. per Student  Unlock$7,391$7,999
 Pupil/Teacher Ratio17.62  Unlock16.23
 Students per Librarian  Unlock61024573
 Students per Counselor279  Unlock530
 Grade School Educ.  Unlock14.1%4.8%
 Some High School Educ.0.7%  Unlock6.3%
 High School Educ.  Unlock74.3%88.9%
 Some College Educ.17.1%  Unlock20.0%
 2 yr College Grad.  Unlock9.4%8.7%
 4 yr College Grad.64.8%  Unlock33.7%
 Masters Grad.  Unlock4.0%9.3%
 Professional Degree3.5%  Unlock2.2%
 Doctorate Degree  Unlock1.1%1.5%
Reviews for Highlands Ranch    20 Reviews

Over 4 years ago

I was born and raised in Highlands Ranch and I know what you’re thinking. “This is a rich girl.” I am not. My parents moved here before it became rich and boujie and the  More

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Worked in the DTC and HR was an easy commute. The people are yuppy- scum-snobs, who do not thank you for holding the door open for their 3+ children, noses held high in  More

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Over 11 years ago

When we moved here from Denver, about 2.5 yrs ago, I did note the affluence, lack of diversity (compared to Denver) and seeming Stepford Wives phenomenon. It is all  More

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Reviews for Merced    44 Reviews

Merced is totally slept on - you want a little bit of everything CA has to offer, at a fraction of the price of other CA cities? Merced is the place to go. The town  More

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Over 5 years ago

Good place to live. More affordable than most of california. The city is growing and there is alot of business and growth here. Moved from the Bay area years ago and  More

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Great place to live. Lots of progress and changes coming to the city. Great place to raise a family. UC Merced is expanding and businesses are investing. Downtown is  More

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