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Walnut Hill Elementary

Public Grades K-5

1041^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,111 Virginia Elementary Schools

Better than 6% of Virginia elementary schools

Summary

Walnut Hill Elementary is a K-5 school in Petersburg, VA, serving 574 students and belonging to Petersburg City Public Schools, a district ranked in the bottom 1% of Virginia districts. Despite that challenging context, Walnut Hill is clearly the strongest elementary school in the district — it outperforms every other Petersburg elementary school in nearly every grade and subject. For example, 3rd grade reading proficiency is 51.9% at Walnut Hill, compared to 34.9% at Pleasants Lane Elementary, 24.4% at Cool Spring Elementary, and 21.9% at Lakemont Elementary. Walnut Hill also leads the district in 5th grade math (52.3%), science (47.1%), and reading (57.5%).

Attendance is another relative bright spot. Walnut Hill's chronic absenteeism rate is 24.4% for 2024-25 — far below the Petersburg district average of 37.8% and the lowest among district elementary schools, though still above the state average of 14.8%. The school spends $9,664 per student, mid-range among nearby schools, with a student-teacher ratio of 14.3. Notably, Pleasants Lane Elementary spends about 31% more per student yet posts much lower test scores and has a chronic absenteeism rate of 44.2%, suggesting Walnut Hill uses its resources relatively effectively.

The most striking comparison for parents is with schools just a few miles away in neighboring districts. Ettrick Elementary and Matoaca Elementary, both in Chesterfield County Public Schools about 3.3 miles away, post math proficiency rates of 79–86% and 64–83%, respectively. L.L. Beazley Elementary in Prince George County Public Schools (5.8 miles away) posts 84–89% math proficiency, and Tussing Elementary in Colonial Heights City Public Schools (5.5 miles away) posts 78–83%. Walnut Hill's math proficiency ranges from 43% to 52%. These neighboring schools serve similar or even higher poverty populations, suggesting Walnut Hill's low ranking is not inevitable. The school has improved modestly over the past two years — rising from the 3rd to the 6th percentile — with encouraging gains among African American students and low-income students.

574

Students ?

14.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$9,664

Per pupil spending ?

93.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

300 S Boulevard
Petersburg, VA 23805

(804) 862-7005

District: Petersburg City Public Schools

Students who attend Walnut Hill Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Vernon Johns Middle
High:	Petersburg High

Racial breakdown:

African American:

84.7%

Hispanic:

9.1%

White:

4.2%

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Compare Walnut Hill Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 35th percentile in 2016 → 6th in 2026

Strengths

✓Among the top-ranked schools in Petersburg City Public Schools

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Virginia average (48% vs 72% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (6th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (24% vs 15% Virginia)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school48%

District avg37%

Virginia avg72%

1,041^st of 1,111

Virginia public elementary schools ?

Bottom 6%▼ down 29 pts since 2016

From bottom 35% (2016) to bottom 6% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Virginia Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 4Elementary Schools in the Petersburg City Public Schools

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	8.3	1041 of 1111	6.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	6.1	1064 of 1110	4.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	5.0	1081 of 1114	3.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	12.3	1001 of 1114	10.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	13.3	998 of 1109	10.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	17.0	943 of 1103	14.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	26.5	913 of 1105	17.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	32.2	851 of 1097	22.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	44.4	695 of 1099	36.8%	★★☆☆☆
2016	44.5	714 of 1096	34.9%	★★☆☆☆
2015	35.4	819 of 1100	25.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	19.9	1007 of 1110	9.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	12.2	1073 of 1120	4.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	13.2	1070 of 1117	4.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	3.9	1105 of 1117	1.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	16.7	1056 of 1113	5.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	19.3	1008 of 1082	6.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	1.5	1078 of 1081	0.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	12.4	1049 of 1083	3.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	19.0	992 of 1071	7.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2005	16.5	993 of 1062	6.5%	☆☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	20.7	521 of 591	11.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	16.0	526 of 579	9.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	9.9	565 of 588	3.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	29.7	450 of 579	22.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	13.7	998 of 1100	9.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	6.1	1055 of 1096	3.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	6.3	1054 of 1098	4.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	18.2	960 of 1100	12.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	12.4	980 of 1040	5.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	11.6	995 of 1046	4.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	7.4	1012 of 1036	2.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	5.7	1058 of 1099	3.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	7.2	1046 of 1093	4.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	4.9	1079 of 1101	2.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	8.5	1035 of 1093	5.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

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)

African American (2026)12th percentile+6 vs school

Female (2026)9th percentile+3 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)6th percentile~ school

Male (2026)4th percentile-3 vs school

By subject vs Virginia (2025-2026) ?

English Reading51%-20 vs state

Mathematics49%-25 vs state

Science47%-22 vs state

VA Studies36%-34 vs state

★

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Schools Near Walnut Hill Elementary

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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 Mathematics (2026)			SOL Science (2026)	SOL English Reading (2026)			SOL VA Studies (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	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 Mathematics 3rd Grade	SOL Mathematics 4th Grade	SOL Mathematics 5th Grade	SOL Science 5th Grade	SOL English Reading 3rd Grade	SOL English Reading 4th Grade	SOL English Reading 5th Grade	SOL VA Studies 4th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Walnut Hill Elementary	Public	K-5	300 S Boulevard	Petersburg	23805	Petersburg city	Petersburg City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(804) 862-7005	574	40	14.3	93.7%	24 (4.2%)	486 (84.7%)	52 (9.1%)	3 (0.5%)	4 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (0.9%)	8.3	1041^st of 1111 public elementary schools	6.3%		6.1	1064^th of 1110 public elementary schools	4.1%	23	50.6	43.5	52.3	47.1	51.9	44.0	57.5	36.3	$9,664	$743	$8,921
Cool Spring Elementary	Public	K-5	1450 Talley Avenue	Petersburg	23803	Petersburg city	Petersburg City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(804) 862-7002	540	37	14.5	94.3%	22 (4.1%)	461 (85.4%)	47 (8.7%)	4 (0.7%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	4 (0.7%)	1	1109^th of 1111 public elementary schools	0.2%		1.3	1105^th of 1110 public elementary schools	0.5%	4	37.2	31.3	35.4	34.4	24.4	37.8	39.6	26.5	$5,417	$948	$4,469
Lakemont Elementary	Public	K-5	51 Gibbons St	Petersburg	23803	Petersburg city	Petersburg City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(804) 862-7007	393	33	11.9	93.6%	17 (4.3%)	285 (72.5%)	81 (20.6%)	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.5%)	1 (0.3%)	6 (1.5%)	1.3	1105^th of 1111 public elementary schools	0.5%		1.1	1107^th of 1110 public elementary schools	0.3%	2	30.1	50.0	19.2	25.5	21.9	38.9	34.0	31.5	$8,675	$1,541	$7,134
Pleasants Lane Elementary	Public	K-5	100 Pleasants Lane	Petersburg	23803	Petersburg city	Petersburg City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(804) 862-7013	493	39	12.6	93.1%	15 (3.0%)	382 (77.5%)	82 (16.6%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	10 (2.0%)	1.3	1104^th of 1111 public elementary schools	0.6%		1.5	1103^rd of 1110 public elementary schools	0.6%	1	44.8	29.1	22.1	25.9	34.9	31.8	45.7	32.6	$12,686	$4,777	$7,909
Ettrick Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	20910 Chesterfield Ave.	South Chesterfield	23803	Petersburg city	Chesterfield County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(804) 520-6005	560	43	13.0	75.2%	104 (18.6%)	358 (63.9%)	64 (11.4%)	2 (0.4%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (5.4%)	60.4	470^th of 1111 public elementary schools	57.7%		49.3	606^th of 1110 public elementary schools	45.4%	136	79.1	79.1	85.9	70.9	70.7	75.9	72.1	70.7	$10,664	$1,492	$9,173
Matoaca Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	20300 Halloway Avenue	South Chesterfield	23803	Petersburg city	Chesterfield County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(804) 590-3100	676	49	13.6	76.5%	348 (51.5%)	206 (30.5%)	80 (11.8%)	3 (0.4%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (5.3%)	47.3	648^th of 1111 public elementary schools	41.7%		55.3	539^th of 1110 public elementary schools	51.4%	109	63.8	65.5	82.7	83.6	56.6	69.0	82.7	59.1	$8,467	$500	$7,966
Lakeview Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	401 Taswell Ave	Colonial Heights	23834	Colonial Heights city	Colonial Heights City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(804) 524-3435	422	34	12.4	95.7%	170 (40.3%)	106 (25.1%)	96 (22.7%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	47 (11.1%)	46.3	655^th of 1111 public elementary schools	41.0%		49	614^th of 1110 public elementary schools	44.7%	41	74.0	74.3	74.7	68.6	59.2	68.9	74.3	62.0	$12,460	$756	$11,704
North Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3201 Dale Ave	Colonial Heights	23834	Colonial Heights city	Colonial Heights City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(804) 524-3430	311	25	12.4	99.0%	84 (27.0%)	125 (40.2%)	54 (17.4%)	5 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	43 (13.8%)	52.8	582^nd of 1111 public elementary schools	47.6%		64.6	426^th of 1110 public elementary schools	61.6%	156	63.2	91.2	88.9	77.8	56.1	67.7	75.6	73.5	$13,020	$828	$12,191
Middle Road Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	5400 Middle Road	Prince George	23875	Prince George County	Prince George County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(804) 733-2750	769	47	16.3	61.5%	248 (32.2%)	274 (35.6%)	162 (21.1%)	8 (1.0%)	1 (0.1%)	8 (1.0%)	68 (8.8%)	55.9	541^st of 1111 public elementary schools	51.3%		59.7	478^th of 1110 public elementary schools	56.9%	63	69.7	70.5	77.6	79.2	63.1	77.1	79.0	73.0	$7,962	$399	$7,562
Tussing Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	5501 Conduit Rd	Colonial Heights	23834	Colonial Heights city	Colonial Heights City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(804) 524-3440	652	46	14.1	99.4%	360 (55.2%)	115 (17.6%)	94 (14.4%)	17 (2.6%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	64 (9.8%)	63.1	435^th of 1111 public elementary schools	60.8%		59.2	488^th of 1110 public elementary schools	56.0%	53	77.7	81.1	82.7	75.5	71.2	74.4	77.6	72.3	$11,458	$471	$10,987

Frequently Asked Questions about Walnut Hill Elementary

What schools do graduates of Walnut Hill Elementary attend?

Students who attend Walnut Hill Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Vernon Johns Middle
High : Petersburg High

How many students attend Walnut Hill Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 574 students attended Walnut Hill Elementary.

What district is Walnut Hill Elementary in?

Petersburg City Public Schools

Is Walnut Hill Elementary a good school?

Walnut Hill Elementary ranks in the bottom 6.3% of Virginia elementary schools.

What is the racial makeup of Walnut Hill Elementary?

Students at Walnut Hill Elementary are 85% African American, 9% Hispanic, 4% White.

Rate Walnut Hill Elementary!

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Latest Virginia data All new data »

2025–26 SOL test scoresNewAug 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.