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Vernon Johns Middle

Q: Is Vernon Johns Middle a good school?

Vernon Johns Middle ranks in the bottom 2.9% of Virginia middle schools.

Q: How many students attend Vernon Johns Middle?

In the 2024-25 school year, 949 students attended Vernon Johns Middle.

Q: What is the racial makeup of Vernon Johns Middle?

Students at Vernon Johns Middle are 83% African American, 11% Hispanic, 5% White.

Q: What high school do graduates of Vernon Johns Middle attend?

Students who attend Vernon Johns Middle usually go on to attend Petersburg High

Public Grades 6-8

404^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 416 Virginia Middle Schools

Better than 3% of Virginia middle schools

Summary

Vernon Johns Middle is a grades 6–8 school in Petersburg, Virginia, enrolling 949 students as part of Petersburg City Public Schools. The school faces significant challenges: it ranks in the bottom 3% of Virginia middle schools (404th out of 416), 92.4% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, and 42.4% of students were chronically absent in 2024–25 — nearly three times the state rate of 14.8%. That absenteeism rate is the highest among nearby schools, with Elizabeth Davis Middle at 14.9% and Falling Creek Middle at 35.1%.

Academically, Vernon Johns has the lowest reading proficiency among nearby middle schools at every grade level, with 6th-grade reading at 32.9% compared to state averages around 73%. The school shows a striking internal divide in math: 8th-grade Algebra I proficiency is 96%, above the state average, but on-grade-level math proficiency is very low — just 16.8% in 6th grade, 26.3% in 7th grade, and 30.9% in 8th grade. That 6th-grade figure is the lowest among all nearby schools. A nearby comparison is instructive: Colonial Heights Middle, just 4 miles away, serves a similarly high-poverty population (98.4% free or reduced lunch) but posts 6th-grade math proficiency of 64.9% and ranks 269th statewide.

There are some encouraging signs. From 2024–25 to 2025–26, 8th-grade math improved from 14.6% to 30.9%, and Algebra I proficiency jumped from 62.3% to 96.0%. English Language Learner students are the school's strongest subgroup, performing at the 21st percentile statewide. However, 6th-grade math dropped from 31.0% to 16.8% over the same period, and most student subgroups score in the low single digits statewide. Vernon Johns spends about $10,047 per student, more than nearby schools in Chesterfield County Public Schools like Bailey Bridge Middle ($8,173) and Falling Creek Middle ($7,856), yet its student-teacher ratio of 15.5 is higher than most nearby schools. The story here is a school with a successful advanced math track but a core population that remains far behind.

949

Students ?

15.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$10,047

Per pupil spending ?

92.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

3101 Homestead Drive
Petersburg, VA 23805

(804) 862-7020

District: Petersburg City Public Schools

Students who attend Vernon Johns Middle usually attend:

High:

Petersburg High

Feeder schools for Vernon Johns Middle:

Elementary:	Cool Spring Elementary
	Lakemont Elementary
	Pleasants Lane Elementary
	Walnut Hill Elementary

Racial breakdown:

African American:

82.7%

Hispanic:

11.3%

White:

5.2%

See top rated Virginia middle schools

Compare Vernon Johns Middle to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 9th percentile in 2016 → 3rd in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Virginia average (35% vs 69% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (3rd percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (42% vs 15% Virginia)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school35%

District avg34%

Virginia avg69%

404^th of 416

Virginia public middle schools ?

Bottom 3%▼ down 6 pts since 2016

From bottom 9% (2016) to bottom 3% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Virginia Middle 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	5.6	404 of 416	2.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	2.0	414 of 419	1.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	4.3	408 of 417	2.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	4.0	411 of 422	2.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	3.6	405 of 415	2.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	7.7	407 of 419	2.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	9.4	404 of 424	4.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	2.6	409 of 413	1.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	1.2	411 of 415	1.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	17.4	371 of 409	9.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	18.2	363 of 412	11.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	26.5	325 of 416	21.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	19.8	367 of 416	11.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	22.0	370 of 413	10.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	19.5	378 of 413	8.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	18.1	383 of 408	6.1%	☆☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	11.5	278 of 297	6.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	7.1	287 of 297	3.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	13.5	279 of 299	6.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	14.2	272 of 298	8.7%	☆☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	11.2	282 of 292	3.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	12.8	259 of 281	7.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	7.5	277 of 278	0.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	27.9	106 of 134	20.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	31.9	95 of 135	29.6%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	4.5	400 of 409	2.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	1.8	401 of 403	0.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	3.5	399 of 407	2.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	4.4	399 of 411	2.9%	☆☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	13.3	263 of 283	7.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	5.4	277 of 279	0.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	5.6	270 of 272	0.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	7.8	274 of 275	0.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	8.5	390 of 401	2.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	4.3	398 of 403	1.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	9.6	384 of 402	4.5%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2026	6.8	399 of 410	2.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	2.4	401 of 404	0.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	5.5	395 of 407	2.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	4.4	399 of 409	2.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Virginia percentile	Rating
2025	4.7	396 of 400	1.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	7.2	382 of 396	3.5%	☆☆☆☆☆

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)

English Language Learner (2026)21st percentile+18 vs school

Hispanic (2026)7th percentile+4 vs school

African American (2026)6th percentile+4 vs school

Disabled (2026)3rd percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)3rd percentile~ school

Male (2026)3rd percentile~ school

Female (2026)2nd percentile~ school

White (2025)1st percentile~ school

By subject vs Virginia (2025-2026) ?

Algebra I96%+3 vs state

Geometry79%-19 vs state

Civics and Economics50%-25 vs state

English Reading36%-37 vs state

Science36%-29 vs state

Mathematics24%-31 vs state

★

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Schools Near Vernon Johns Middle

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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 Geometry (2026)	SOL Algebra I (2026)		SOL Algebra II (2026)	SOL Mathematics (2026)			SOL Science (2026)	SOL Earth Science (2026)		SOL English Reading (2026)			SOL World History I (2026)	SOL Civics and Economics (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 Geometry 8th Grade	SOL Algebra I 7th Grade	SOL Algebra I 8th Grade	SOL Algebra II 8th Grade	SOL Mathematics 6th Grade	SOL Mathematics 7th Grade	SOL Mathematics 8th Grade	SOL Science 8th Grade	SOL Earth Science 8th Grade	SOL Earth Science 9th Grade	SOL English Reading 6th Grade	SOL English Reading 7th Grade	SOL English Reading 8th Grade	SOL World History I 8th Grade	SOL Civics and Economics 7th Grade	SOL Civics and Economics 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Vernon Johns Middle	Public	6-8	3101 Homestead Drive	Petersburg	23805	Petersburg city	Petersburg City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(804) 862-7020	949	61	15.5	92.4%	49 (5.2%)	785 (82.7%)	107 (11.3%)	3 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	4 (0.4%)	5.6	404^th of 416 public middle schools	2.9%		2	414^th of 419 public middle schools	1.2%	10	78.6		96.0		16.8	26.3	30.9	35.7			32.9	36.3	39.1			50.0	$10,047	$1,490	$8,556
Colonial Heights Middle	Public	6-8	500 Conduit Rd	Colonial Heights	23834	Colonial Heights city	Colonial Heights City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(804) 524-3420	700	55	12.7	98.4%	283 (40.4%)	216 (30.9%)	108 (15.4%)	30 (4.3%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	62 (8.9%)	44	269^th of 416 public middle schools	35.3%		41	272^nd of 419 public middle schools	35.1%	3	≥ 50%	≥ 50%	94.8		64.9	61.6	42.1	61.9			72.6	65.4	64.6			70.1	$11,049	$782	$10,268
Matoaca Middle	Public	6-8	6001 Hickory Road	South Chesterfield	23803	Petersburg city	Chesterfield County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(804) 590-3130	775	52	14.9	76.3%	333 (43.0%)	324 (41.8%)	65 (8.4%)	3 (0.4%)	3 (0.4%)	2 (0.3%)	45 (5.8%)	33.2	318^th of 416 public middle schools	23.6%		19.4	374^th of 419 public middle schools	10.7%	56	90.9	100.0	80.4		63.0	46.5	23.9	37.0	77.1		75.3	68.8	68.5	≥ 50%		64.0	$8,561	$223	$8,338
J.E.J. Moore Middle	Public	6-8	11455 Prince George Dr	Disputanta	23842	Prince George County	Prince George County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(804) 733-2740	1,387	68	20.4	39.6%	589 (42.5%)	457 (32.9%)	220 (15.9%)	9 (0.6%)	10 (0.7%)	11 (0.8%)	91 (6.6%)	55	202^nd of 416 public middle schools	51.4%		59	183^rd of 419 public middle schools	56.3%	19	100.0	100.0	100.0		62.7	63.2	63.3	63.0	≥ 50%		73.9	71.1	72.0			74.5	$11,435	$401	$11,033
Carver Middle	Public	6-8	3800 Cougar Trail	Chester	23831	Chesterfield County	Chesterfield County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(804) 524-3620	970	76	12.7	74.9%	237 (24.4%)	503 (51.9%)	157 (16.2%)	18 (1.9%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.2%)	52 (5.4%)	12.8	387^th of 416 public middle schools	7.0%		9.5	397^th of 419 public middle schools	5.3%	10	476.0	100.0	71.9		43.4	38.3	18.8	28.6	74.1		61.3	60.7	58.8	386.0		47.9	$8,494	$485	$8,009
Carter G. Woodson Middle	Public	6-8	1000 Winston Churchill Drive	Hopewell	23860	Hopewell city	Hopewell City Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(804) 541-6404	803	66	12.1	101.0%	152 (18.9%)	469 (58.4%)	125 (15.6%)	9 (1.1%)	4 (0.5%)	1 (0.1%)	43 (5.4%)	14.5	382^nd of 416 public middle schools	8.2%		11.3	391^st of 419 public middle schools	6.7%	9		100.0	95.1	100.0	30.7	37.0	49.4	34.2	85.7		49.6	52.6	53.2			47.5	$9,573	$1,355	$8,218
Elizabeth Davis Middle	Public	6-8	601 Corvus Court	Chester	23836	Chesterfield County	Chesterfield County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(804) 541-4700	1,364	93	14.5	75.3%	452 (33.1%)	445 (32.6%)	338 (24.8%)	48 (3.5%)	2 (0.1%)	4 (0.3%)	75 (5.5%)	49.5	233^rd of 416 public middle schools	44.0%		44.2	252^nd of 419 public middle schools	39.9%	19	94.6	100.0	93.2	475.0	67.4	64.7	39.0	46.7	93.6	≥ 50%	72.5	69.3	75.1	385.0	≥ 50%	74.9	$8,417	$68	$8,349
Dinwiddie County Middle	Public	6-8	11608 Courthouse Road	Dinwiddie	23841	Dinwiddie County	Dinwiddie County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(804) 469-5430	919	72	12.7	93.9%	444 (48.3%)	333 (36.2%)	81 (8.8%)	3 (0.3%)	3 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	55 (6.0%)	14.5	381^st of 416 public middle schools	8.4%		22.4	359^th of 419 public middle schools	14.3%	22			81.2		47.4	16.7	31.0	51.9			58.6	58.8	60.3		47.7	≥ 50%	$10,645	$492	$10,153
Salem Church Middle	Public	6-8	9700 Salem Church Rd	North Chesterfield	23237	Chesterfield County	Chesterfield County Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(804) 768-6225	876	62	14.1	75.3%	186 (21.2%)	288 (32.9%)	341 (38.9%)	13 (1.5%)	3 (0.3%)	3 (0.3%)	42 (4.8%)	13.5	383^rd of 416 public middle schools	7.9%		6.6	402^nd of 419 public middle schools	4.1%	19	≥ 50%	≥ 50%	83.5		48.3	40.8	33.3	27.1	98.2		54.7	51.6	48.9	375.0		54.3	$8,366	$122	$8,244
Falling Creek Middle	Public	6-8	4780 Hopkins Rd.	North Chesterfield	23234	Chesterfield County	Chesterfield County Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(804) 743-3640	1,443	115	12.5	75.7%	81 (5.6%)	518 (35.9%)	788 (54.6%)	15 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	40 (2.8%)	3.9	409^th of 416 public middle schools	1.7%		1.4	416^th of 419 public middle schools	0.7%	7	< 50%	461.0	92.5		32.2	15.7	14.2	20.8	74.1		39.9	42.8	42.7	351.0		51.2	$7,856	$769	$7,087

Frequently Asked Questions about Vernon Johns Middle

What is the racial makeup of Vernon Johns Middle?

Students at Vernon Johns Middle are 83% African American, 11% Hispanic, 5% White.

Is Vernon Johns Middle a good school?

Vernon Johns Middle ranks in the bottom 2.9% of Virginia middle schools.

What high school do graduates of Vernon Johns Middle attend?

Students who attend Vernon Johns Middle usually go on to attend Petersburg High

What district is Vernon Johns Middle in?

Petersburg City Public Schools

How many students attend Vernon Johns Middle?

In the 2024-25 school year, 949 students attended Vernon Johns Middle.

Rate Vernon Johns Middle!

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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.