Techniques for implementing a local neural network and global decoding scheme for quantum error correction of circuit-level noise within quantum surface codes such that the decoding schemes have fast decoding throughout and low latency times for quantum algorithms are disclosed. A local neural network decoder may be pre-trained via a supervised learning technique such that the local neural network decoder may be applied for error correction in the presence of circuit-level noise in arbitrarily sized surface codes in a local decoding stage. Prior to a global decoding stage, an intermediate stage may be used to remove vertical pairs of highlighted vertices within the matching graph, which may reduce a syndrome density within the matching graph to allow for faster decoding at the global decoding stage. Such an intermediate stage may include application of a syndrome collapse or vertical cleanup technique.