2025 Compare Cities Education:
Highlands Ranch, CO vs Santa Maria, CA

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Highlights
- Santa Maria spends 31.5% more per student than Highlands Ranch.
- The Student Teacher Ratio is 19.2% higher in Santa Maria than in Highlands Ranch. (lower means fewer students in each classroom).
- Santa Maria had 37.1% fewer residents who had graduated High School compared to Highlands Ranch
 Highlands Ranch, COSanta Maria, CAUnited States
 Expend. per Student  Unlock$16,705$15,905
 Educ. Expend. per Student$10,748  Unlock$13,142
 Instr. Expend. per Student  Unlock$7,862$7,999
 Pupil/Teacher Ratio17.62  Unlock16.23
 Students per Librarian  Unlock123874573
 Students per Counselor279  Unlock530
 Grade School Educ.  Unlock27.8%4.8%
 Some High School Educ.0.7%  Unlock6.3%
 High School Educ.  Unlock62.2%88.9%
 Some College Educ.17.1%  Unlock20.0%
 2 yr College Grad.  Unlock7.2%8.7%
 4 yr College Grad.64.8%  Unlock33.7%
 Masters Grad.  Unlock2.8%9.3%
 Professional Degree3.5%  Unlock2.2%
 Doctorate Degree  Unlock0.3%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 Santa Maria    12 Reviews

Over 6 years ago

I live in Orcutt which is a town of around 35,000 on the south side of Santa Maria. Santa Maria has, as everyone has noted, the best climate in the world. It never  More

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I have lived in Santa Maria / Orcutt for several years, but it is time to leave. I have no issues with the weather. Our climate is mild and comfortable with no extremes.  More

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The weather is very mild without a huge temperature change with the seasons. The winters are chilly but not cold and the summers are warm but not hot. Of course there  More

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