2026 Compare Cities Education:
Santa Cruz, CA vs Sparks, NV

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Highlights
- Sparks spends 16.7% less per student than Santa Cruz.
- The Student Teacher Ratio is 26.1% lower in Sparks than in Santa Cruz. (lower means fewer students in each classroom).
- Sparks had 10.9% fewer residents who had graduated High School compared to Santa Cruz
 Santa Cruz, CASparks, NVUnited States
 Expend. per Student  Unlock$13,626$15,905
 Educ. Expend. per Student$13,552  Unlock$13,142
 Instr. Expend. per Student  Unlock$5,562$7,999
 Pupil/Teacher Ratio21.84  Unlock16.23
 Students per Librarian  Unlock4914573
 Students per Counselor473  Unlock530
 Grade School Educ.  Unlock6.8%4.8%
 Some High School Educ.1.9%  Unlock6.3%
 High School Educ.  Unlock85.3%88.9%
 Some College Educ.19.7%  Unlock20.0%
 2 yr College Grad.  Unlock8.8%8.7%
 4 yr College Grad.56.6%  Unlock33.7%
 Masters Grad.  Unlock6.6%9.3%
 Professional Degree4.9%  Unlock2.2%
 Doctorate Degree  Unlock0.7%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 6 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 Sparks    14 Reviews

Over 13 years ago

Nice place to live. Lots of events, recreation, and  More

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LOVE it! Fifth generation Reno/Sparks native. Paternal great grandparents born and raised in Reno. Sparks has an old fashioned home town feeling. I love Sparks! Great  More

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Over 18 years ago

Do not listen to the Californian. Sparks has all 4 seasons. It does snow here but the snow is very wet and melts quickly and it does not snow six months out of the year.  More

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