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

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Highlights
- Highlands Ranch spends 22.4% less per student than Santa Cruz.
- The Student Teacher Ratio is 19.3% lower in Highlands Ranch than in Santa Cruz. (lower means fewer students in each classroom).
- Highlands Ranch had 3.3% more residents who had graduated High School compared to Santa Cruz
 Santa Cruz, CAHighlands Ranch, COUnited States
 Expend. per Student  Unlock$12,699$15,905
 Educ. Expend. per Student$13,552  Unlock$13,142
 Instr. Expend. per Student  Unlock$6,132$7,999
 Pupil/Teacher Ratio21.84  Unlock16.23
 Students per Librarian  Unlock9144573
 Students per Counselor473  Unlock530
 Grade School Educ.  Unlock0.5%4.8%
 Some High School Educ.1.9%  Unlock6.3%
 High School Educ.  Unlock98.8%88.9%
 Some College Educ.19.7%  Unlock20.0%
 2 yr College Grad.  Unlock7.1%8.7%
 4 yr College Grad.56.6%  Unlock33.7%
 Masters Grad.  Unlock19.1%9.3%
 Professional Degree4.9%  Unlock2.2%
 Doctorate Degree  Unlock1.9%1.5%
Reviews for Santa Cruz    44 Reviews

I lived in the Santa Cruz area for 20 years. UCSC alum. Our kids were born there. There are wonderful things about Santa Cruz, but also many serious problems that we  More

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Over 5 years ago

I have been here for four generations! My kids are the fifth. I guess that should tell you how wonderful it is here, at least for us. It's so cool to have world class  More

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I was born over the hill in San Jose area, and as a kid I loved coming over to the boardwalk. Santa Cruz has always been and always will be a town of diversity,  More

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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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