2025 Compare Cities Education:
Surprise, AZ vs Santa Cruz, CA

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Highlights
- Santa Cruz spends 54.9% more per student than Surprise.
- The Student Teacher Ratio is 19.7% higher in Santa Cruz than in Surprise. (lower means fewer students in each classroom).
- Santa Cruz had 2.4% more residents who had graduated High School compared to Surprise
 Surprise, AZSanta Cruz, CAUnited States
 Expend. per Student  Unlock$16,364$15,905
 Educ. Expend. per Student$8,653  Unlock$13,142
 Instr. Expend. per Student  Unlock$7,688$7,999
 Pupil/Teacher Ratio18.24  Unlock16.23
 Students per Librarian  Unlock62714573
 Students per Counselor718  Unlock530
 Grade School Educ.  Unlock2.3%4.8%
 Some High School Educ.4.8%  Unlock6.3%
 High School Educ.  Unlock95.7%88.9%
 Some College Educ.26.9%  Unlock20.0%
 2 yr College Grad.  Unlock8.1%8.7%
 4 yr College Grad.30.6%  Unlock33.7%
 Masters Grad.  Unlock18.0%9.3%
 Professional Degree1.4%  Unlock2.2%
 Doctorate Degree  Unlock5.5%1.5%
Reviews for Surprise    52 Reviews

I have lived in Surprise, Az. For the past 21 years. One of the best cities to live in Az. From the police department to maintaining the streets & freeways. One thing I  More

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I am an Arizona native - 55 years - and have lived in Surprise since 2003. I wouldn't live anywhere else! I have watched this place grow and prosper. It is very family  More

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Over 11 years ago

The city of surprise is a beautiful place. It would not be a good place to live however. They have a young eager police force. You are taking a BIG risk driving  More

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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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