Petersburg City School District

255 South Boulevard East
Petersburg, VA 23805-2700
(District boundaries shown in map)
: 
1/
10
Bottom 50%
For the 2026-27 school year, there are 7 public schools serving 4,582 students in Petersburg City School District. This district's average testing ranking is 1/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public schools in Virginia.
Public Schools in Petersburg City School District have an average math proficiency score of 32% (versus the Virginia public school average of 68%), and reading proficiency score of 44% (versus the 70% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 96% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the Virginia public school average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (VA)
# Schools
7 Schools
2,135 Schools
# Students
4,582 Students
1,257,051 Students
# Teachers
314 Teachers
92,248 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
15:1
15:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Petersburg City School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 131 school districts in Virginia (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 86% has increased from 74% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (VA)
#131 out of 132 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
32%
68%
(20-21)
44%
69%
(20-21)
25%
59%
86%
88.8%
(2022-23)
41.8%
19.1%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.32
0.72
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
1%
8%
% Hispanic
12%
20%
% Black
82%
21%
% White
4%
44%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
1%
7%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $17,820 in this school district is less than the state median of $18,383. The school district revenue/student has grown by 8% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $17,942 is less than the state median of $18,168. The school district spending/student has grown by 12% over four school years.
This School District
This State (VA)
Total Revenue
$82 MM
$23,109 MM
Spending
$82 MM
$22,838 MM
Revenue / Student
$17,820
$18,383
Spending / Student
$17,942
$18,168

Best Petersburg City School District Public Schools (2026-27)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Petersburg High School
(Math: 70-79% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
3101 Johnson Road
Petersburg, VA 23805
(804) 862-7096
Gr: 9-12 | 1,215 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
Rank: #22.
Walnut Hill Elementary School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
300 S Boulevard
Petersburg, VA 23805
(804) 862-7005
Gr: K-5 | 574 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
Rank: #33.
Vernon Johns Middle School
(Math: 28% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
3101 Homestead Drive
Petersburg, VA 23805
(804) 862-7020
Gr: 6-8 | 949 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 95%
Rank: #44.
Cool Spring Elementary School
(Math: 29% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
1450 Talley Avenue
Petersburg, VA 23803
(804) 862-7002
Gr: K-5 | 540 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
Rank: #55.
Pleasants Lane Elementary School
(Math: 28% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
100 Pleasants Lane
Petersburg, VA 23803
(804) 862-7013
Gr: K-5 | 493 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
Rank: #66.
Lakemont Elementary School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
51 Gibbons St
Petersburg, VA 23803
(804) 862-7007
Gr: K-5 | 393 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
1100 Patterson Street
Petersburg, VA 23803
(804) 862-7010
Gr: PK | 418 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 96%

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools belong to Petersburg City School District?
Petersburg City School District manages 7 public schools serving 4,582 students.
What is the rank of Petersburg City School District?
Petersburg City School District is ranked #131 out of 131 school districts in Virginia (bottom 50%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2022-2023 school year.
What is the racial composition of students in Petersburg City School District?
82% of Petersburg City School District students are Black, 12% of students are Hispanic, 4% of students are White, 1% of students are Asian, and 1% of students are Two or more races.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Petersburg City School District?
Petersburg City School District has a student/teacher ratio of 15:1, which is higher than the Virginia state average of 14:1.
What is Petersburg City School District's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $17,942 is less than the state median of $18,168. The school district spending/student has grown by 12% over four school years.

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Quick Facts (26-27)

  • District size: 7 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 4,582 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 96%
  • : 86% (Btm 50% in VA)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 32% (Btm 50%)
  • : 44% (Btm 50%)
  • : 25% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), VA Dept. of Education

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