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Petersburg High

Q: Is Petersburg High a good school?

Petersburg High ranks in the bottom 3.0% of Virginia high schools.

Q: How many students attend Petersburg High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,215 students attended Petersburg High.

Q: What is the racial makeup of Petersburg High?

Students at Petersburg High are 82% African American, 13% Hispanic, 4% White.

Q: What schools feed into Petersburg High?

Petersburg High is fed by the following schools: Elementary : Cool Spring Elementary Elementary : Lakemont Elementary Elementary : Pleasants Lane Elementary Elementary : Walnut Hill Elementary Middle : Vernon Johns Middle

Public Grades 9-12

321^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 331 Virginia High Schools

Better than 3% of Virginia high schools

Summary

Petersburg High in Petersburg, VA, serves 1,215 students in grades 9–12 and is part of Petersburg City Public Schools, a district ranked 130th out of 131 districts in Virginia. The school itself ranks 321st out of 331 Virginia high schools (3rd percentile) for 2025–2026, marking it as one of the lowest-performing high schools in the state. Serving a high-poverty student body—88.2% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch—the school faces an urgent challenge: 46.5% of students are chronically absent, roughly double or triple the rates at nearby Matoaca High (17.0%), Thomas Dale High (18.7%), Lloyd C. Bird High (20.6%), and Prince George High (23.4%).

Despite spending $18,889 per student in 2023–2024—more than double the spending at Thomas Dale High ($7,999), Matoaca High ($8,251), and Prince George High ($8,128)—Petersburg High's academic outcomes remain near the bottom of the state. Only 36.2% of 9th graders passed World History I versus 72.2% statewide, and just 36.1% passed Biology compared to 68.9% statewide. The graduation rate of 86.2% is a relative bright spot but still trails Matoaca (93.3%), Prince George (93.2%), Thomas Dale (91.6%), and Dinwiddie County High (91.3%).

There are encouraging signs worth noting. Petersburg High consistently outperforms the state in Writing SOL scores—89.5% of 11th graders were proficient in 2025–2026 versus 79.9% statewide—and 12th-grade students often score at or above state averages in Algebra I, Biology, and English Reading, suggesting that students who stay connected to school can succeed. Colonial Heights High, just 5.6 miles away, serves a similarly high-poverty population yet ranks 171st (48th percentile) and outperforms Petersburg in nearly every academic metric while spending about $11,800 per student. This comparison underscores that targeted interventions around attendance and early high school preparation—not just funding—will be critical to turning things around at Petersburg High.

1,215

Students ?

15.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$18,889

Per pupil spending ?

88.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

3101 Johnson Road
Petersburg, VA 23805

(804) 862-7096

District: Petersburg City Public Schools

Feeder schools for Petersburg High:

Elementary:	Cool Spring Elementary
	Lakemont Elementary
	Pleasants Lane Elementary
	Walnut Hill Elementary
Middle:	Vernon Johns Middle

Racial breakdown:

African American:

81.6%

Hispanic:

12.9%

White:

3.6%

See top rated Virginia high schools

Compare Petersburg High to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 19th percentile in 2016 → 3rd in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Virginia average (54% vs 77% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (3rd percentile)

!Graduation rate below the Virginia average (86% vs 92%)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school54%

District avg54%

Virginia avg77%

321^st of 331

Virginia public high schools ?

Bottom 3%▼ down 16 pts since 2016

From bottom 19% (2016) to bottom 3% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Virginia High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

130^th of 131Petersburg City Public Schools among Virginia districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	15.5	321 of 331	3.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	25.4	300 of 328	8.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	19.7	315 of 329	4.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	21.6	307 of 326	5.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	14.1	311 of 325	4.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	5.7	317 of 327	3.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	13.2	317 of 327	3.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	10.3	318 of 326	2.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	9.9	318 of 324	1.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	30.6	261 of 321	18.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	27.3	279 of 322	13.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	32.8	251 of 322	22.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	30.3	255 of 321	20.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	30.5	264 of 321	17.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	44.3	191 of 320	40.3%	★★☆☆☆
2010	43.0	212 of 317	33.1%	★★☆☆☆
2009	29.7	260 of 313	16.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	8.4	311 of 316	1.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	3.3	311 of 313	0.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	3.5	310 of 314	1.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2005	5.2	304 of 308	1.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	18.8	229 of 242	5.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	30.8	194 of 245	20.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	27.1	218 of 249	12.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	31.1	200 of 240	16.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	4.6	251 of 252	0.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	12.9	242 of 253	4.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	23.5	211 of 249	15.3%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	23.5	122 of 135	9.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	36.0	67 of 101	33.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	14.3	118 of 122	3.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	12.3	316 of 322	1.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	19.9	300 of 321	6.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	20.1	304 of 322	5.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	21.8	299 of 320	6.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	9.3	241 of 242	0.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	23.8	212 of 236	10.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	12.6	229 of 233	1.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	26.5	203 of 232	12.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	35.4	9 of 10	10.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	16.0	315 of 321	1.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	29.7	274 of 324	15.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	24.1	299 of 320	6.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	14.8	312 of 325	4.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	20.6	299 of 322	7.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	12.1	316 of 322	1.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	15.2	310 of 321	3.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Homeless (2026)10th percentile+7 vs school

English Language Learner (2026)10th percentile+7 vs school

African American (2026)5th percentile~ school

Male (2026)4th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)2nd percentile~ school

Female (2026)2nd percentile~ school

Hispanic (2026)<1st percentile-3 vs school

Disabled (2026)<1st percentile-3 vs school

By subject vs Virginia (2025-2026) ?

Writing76%~ state avg

English Reading75%-11 vs state

Geometry67%-10 vs state

Algebra I63%-16 vs state

Biology50%-27 vs state

VA and US History37%~ state avg

World History I36%-34 vs state

World History II24%-16 vs state

★

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Schools Near Petersburg High

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				SOL Writing (2026)				SOL Geometry (2026)				SOL Algebra I (2026)				SOL Algebra II (2026)				SOL Chemistry (2026)			SOL Biology (2026)				SOL Earth Science (2026)				SOL English Reading (2026)				SOL Geography (2026)				SOL VA and US History (2026)				SOL World History I (2026)				SOL World History II (2026)				Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	SOL Writing 9th Grade	SOL Writing 10th Grade	SOL Writing 11th Grade	SOL Writing 12th Grade	SOL Geometry 9th Grade	SOL Geometry 10th Grade	SOL Geometry 11th Grade	SOL Geometry 12th Grade	SOL Algebra I 9th Grade	SOL Algebra I 10th Grade	SOL Algebra I 11th Grade	SOL Algebra I 12th Grade	SOL Algebra II 9th Grade	SOL Algebra II 10th Grade	SOL Algebra II 11th Grade	SOL Algebra II 12th Grade	SOL Chemistry 10th Grade	SOL Chemistry 11th Grade	SOL Chemistry 12th Grade	SOL Biology 9th Grade	SOL Biology 10th Grade	SOL Biology 11th Grade	SOL Biology 12th Grade	SOL Earth Science 9th Grade	SOL Earth Science 10th Grade	SOL Earth Science 11th Grade	SOL Earth Science 12th Grade	SOL English Reading 9th Grade	SOL English Reading 10th Grade	SOL English Reading 11th Grade	SOL English Reading 12th Grade	SOL Geography 9th Grade	SOL Geography 10th Grade	SOL Geography 11th Grade	SOL Geography 12th Grade	SOL VA and US History 9th Grade	SOL VA and US History 10th Grade	SOL VA and US History 11th Grade	SOL VA and US History 12th Grade	SOL World History I 9th Grade	SOL World History I 10th Grade	SOL World History I 11th Grade	SOL World History I 12th Grade	SOL World History II 9th Grade	SOL World History II 10th Grade	SOL World History II 11th Grade	SOL World History II 12th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Petersburg High	Public	9-12	3101 Johnson Road	Petersburg	23805	Petersburg city	Petersburg City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(804) 862-7096	1,215	76	15.9	88.1%	44 (3.6%)	991 (81.6%)	157 (12.9%)	11 (0.9%)	3 (0.2%)	1 (0.1%)	8 (0.7%)	15.5	321^st of 331 public high schools	3.0%		25.4	300^th of 328 public high schools	8.5%	21		67.7	89.5	< 50%	66.7	382.0	< 50%		59.5	68.9	68.4	91.7		404.0	≥ 50%		398.0	432.0	< 50%	70.2	36.1	57.8	81.5			≥ 50%			380.0	74.3	84.6	405.0					373.0	35.3	45.8	36.2	398.0	395.0	< 50%	≥ 50%	24.3	≥ 50%		$18,889	$4,075	$14,814
Colonial Heights High	Public	9-12	3600 Conduit Rd	Colonial Heights	23834	Colonial Heights city	Colonial Heights City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(804) 524-3405	886	66	13.4	97.2%	427 (48.2%)	229 (25.8%)	123 (13.9%)	28 (3.2%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	78 (8.8%)	56	171^st of 331 public high schools	48.3%		60.2	145^th of 328 public high schools	55.8%	26		≥ 50%	≥ 50%	≥ 50%	76.1	385.0	< 50%		88.8	68.8	≥ 50%		≥ 50%		≥ 50%		448.0	< 50%		79.4	76.0	71.4	≥ 50%	< 50%					63.6	85.3	66.7	≥ 50%	< 50%				359.0	371.0	< 50%	397.0	409.0		≥ 50%		398.0			$11,800	$521	$11,279
Matoaca High	Public	9-12	17700 Longhouse Lane	Chesterfield	23838	Chesterfield County	Chesterfield County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(804) 590-3108	1,624	119	13.7	74.2%	650 (40.0%)	680 (41.9%)	178 (11.0%)	13 (0.8%)	5 (0.3%)	4 (0.2%)	94 (5.8%)	30.7	276^th of 331 public high schools	16.6%		39	251^st of 328 public high schools	23.5%	25	315.0	56.7	57.9	391.0	47.7	16.3	363.0	< 50%	60.8	73.3	420.0	100.0	100.0	18.5	18.2	< 50%		< 50%	< 50%	76.6	50.7	60.7	90.3	411.0		≥ 50%	≥ 50%		70.0	84.7	84.6	48.2	381.0			< 50%	25.0	32.8	60.0	82.1	386.0	≥ 50%	88.6	≥ 50%	27.3		≥ 50%	$8,251	$188	$8,064
Prince George High	Public	9-12	7801 Laurel Spring Rd	Prince George	23875	Prince George County	Prince George County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(804) 733-2720	1,789	88	20.3	35.4%	780 (43.6%)	556 (31.1%)	288 (16.1%)	22 (1.2%)	6 (0.3%)	11 (0.6%)	126 (7.0%)	50	198^th of 331 public high schools	40.2%		46.6	220^th of 328 public high schools	32.9%	22		50.0	70.6	469.0	86.8	376.0	382.0	< 50%	92.7	77.5	88.9	435.0	90.5	449.0	50.0		≥ 50%	52.9	< 50%	96.8	68.6	67.4	79.0	65.7		< 50%			442.0	81.8	91.7	≥ 50%					378.0	42.0	77.3	77.1	≥ 50%		≥ 50%	≥ 50%	36.7	390.0	< 50%	$8,128	$325	$7,803
Hopewell High	Public	9-12	400 S Mesa Dr	Hopewell	23860	Hopewell city	Hopewell City Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(804) 541-6402	1,136	69	16.3	101.2%	215 (18.9%)	715 (62.9%)	157 (13.8%)	9 (0.8%)	8 (0.7%)	1 (0.1%)	31 (2.7%)	15.6	319^th of 331 public high schools	3.6%		22.2	307^th of 328 public high schools	6.4%	12		422.0	57.1	≥ 50%	80.0	< 50%	359.0	< 50%	56.4	41.4	60.0	399.0	62.5	385.0	≥ 50%		377.0	419.0		84.9	47.7	56.4	77.4	50.0		< 50%	< 50%		420.0	76.8	52.9	≥ 50%					384.0	36.7	67.7	42.6	28.0	< 50%	90.0		25.0	408.0		$10,086	$720	$9,366
Dinwiddie County High	Public	9-12	11501 Boisseau Road	Dinwiddie	23841	Dinwiddie County	Dinwiddie County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(804) 469-4280	1,260	132	9.5	94.3%	620 (49.2%)	425 (33.7%)	119 (9.4%)	3 (0.2%)	3 (0.2%)	3 (0.2%)	87 (6.9%)	35.3	265^th of 331 public high schools	19.9%		43	238^th of 328 public high schools	27.4%	27	< 50%	68.1	36.1	54.6	≥ 50%	≥ 50%			76.1	59.4	388.0	70.6	73.2	< 50%	< 50%	< 50%	< 50%	< 50%		87.4	50.0	56.3	36.0	< 50%	60.0	< 50%	≥ 50%		381.0	76.2	64.5						< 50%	26.7	387.0	72.9	43.5	397.0	≥ 50%	≥ 50%	388.0	< 50%	≥ 50%	$11,174	$707	$10,467
Carver College And Career Academy	Public	9-12	12400 Branders Bridge Road	Chester	23831	Chesterfield County	Chesterfield County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(804) 768-6156	272	42	6.5	75.4%	80 (29.4%)	113 (41.5%)	57 (21.0%)	2 (0.7%)	1 (0.4%)	1 (0.4%)	18 (6.6%)	13.6	324^th of 331 public high schools	2.1%		17.8	313^th of 328 public high schools	4.6%	11	25.0	28.0	414.0	388.0	379.0	352.0	≥ 50%	≥ 50%	31.3	436.0	≥ 50%	≥ 50%								≥ 50%	37.0	39.3	368.0		373.0	410.0	≥ 50%	≥ 50%	401.0	62.5	70.6						376.0	381.0	< 50%	32.4	413.0	441.0	≥ 50%	< 50%		≥ 50%		$20,496	$392	$20,104
Thomas Dale High	Public	9-12	3626 W. Hundred Rd.	Chester	23831	Chesterfield County	Chesterfield County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(804) 768-6245	2,582	190	13.5	74.2%	867 (33.6%)	973 (37.7%)	546 (21.1%)	53 (2.1%)	7 (0.3%)	11 (0.4%)	125 (4.8%)	48.5	207^th of 331 public high schools	37.5%		47.3	213^th of 328 public high schools	35.1%	6	365.0	62.2	70.0	73.3	60.3	16.7	360.0	< 50%	71.4	88.1	91.3	100.0	81.0	50.0	379.0			< 50%		87.6	71.4	88.2	97.1	80.0	≥ 50%		≥ 50%		72.0	87.2	89.8	59.9	404.0	≥ 50%	≥ 50%	< 50%	69.2	59.9	77.8	85.7			≥ 50%	≥ 50%	49.6	425.0		$7,999	$447	$7,552
Sussex I State Prison	Public	11-12	24414 Musselwhite Dr	Waverly	23891	Sussex County	Virginia Department of Corrections	No	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	(804) 834-8867																			(n/a)
Lloyd C. Bird High	Public	9-12	10301 Courthouse Rd.	Chesterfield	23832	Chesterfield County	Chesterfield County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(804) 768-6110	2,131	144	14.7	74.0%	452 (21.2%)	866 (40.6%)	674 (31.6%)	47 (2.2%)	2 (0.1%)	1 (0.0%)	89 (4.2%)	31.1	275^th of 331 public high schools	16.9%		32.9	274^th of 328 public high schools	16.5%	1	338.0	50.5	25.8	383.0	41.8	15.4	370.0	< 50%	57.5	70.8	94.4	86.7	100.0	361.0	380.0	≥ 50%	< 50%			69.5	62.8	73.7	80.7	≥ 50%	< 50%	≥ 50%	398.0		66.7	81.8	76.0	87.9				< 50%	24.7	35.5	61.5	63.1	56.6	80.0	94.6	≥ 50%	33.9	398.0	< 50%	$7,475	$50	$7,425

Frequently Asked Questions about Petersburg High

What schools feed into Petersburg High?

Petersburg High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Cool Spring Elementary
Elementary : Lakemont Elementary
Elementary : Pleasants Lane Elementary
Elementary : Walnut Hill Elementary
Middle : Vernon Johns Middle

How many students attend Petersburg High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,215 students attended Petersburg High.

What is the racial makeup of Petersburg High?

Students at Petersburg High are 82% African American, 13% Hispanic, 4% White.

What district is Petersburg High in?

Petersburg City Public Schools

Is Petersburg High a good school?

Petersburg High ranks in the bottom 3.0% of Virginia high schools.

Rate Petersburg High!

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Schools in Petersburg, VA

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Latest Virginia data All new data »

2025–26 SOL test scoresAug 25, 2026

2021–22 school spending dataFeb 16, 2026

2022–23 through 2023–24 school spending dataFeb 10, 2026

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesJan 6, 2026

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Virginia Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.