- Enrollment
- 1,215
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Petersburg, VA
Vernon Johns Middle
Federal NCES profile for Vernon Johns Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 37/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 510291002794
👥 S:T ratio 41
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 37
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Vernon Johns Middle earns 37/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Virginia median.
- #4 of 7
- public schools in Petersburg · Resource Index
- 37
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.8:1
- students per teacher
- 98.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Vernon Johns Middle has class sizes near the Virginia median. Computed live against every Virginia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Vernon Johns Middle ranks #4 of 7 public schools in Petersburg, VA.
School address
District: Petersburg City Public Schools · Virginia
NCES ID 510291002794 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-20 students YoY
Vernon Johns Middle held near 901 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-20 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 64.5 → 59.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-20 students YoY 510291002794 · Petersburg, VA Middle · MID · TRAD
949 enr · 14.8:1 · 98.7% lunch · RII 37
Nearest enrollment peer: Petersburg High (1,215 students)
Vernon Johns Middle held near 901 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-20 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 64.5 → 59.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Virginia schools → · Find another →
Vernon Johns Middle in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Petersburg Hig
Petersburg High
1,215 students
- This school
Vernon Johns Middle
949 students
- Walnut Hill El
Walnut Hill Elementary
574 students
- Cool Spring El
Cool Spring Elementary
540 students
- Pleasants Lane
Pleasants Lane Elementary
493 students
- Westview Early 418
Westview Early Childhood Education Center
418 students
What this shows Vernon Johns Middle reports 949 students on the CCD universe file.
How Vernon Johns Middle compares
Vernon Johns Middle held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Virginia and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Virginia | Virginia avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14.8:1 | ▲ 6% | 13.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 98.7% | ▲ 71% | 57.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 949 | top 16% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.8:1
Leaner classes than 49% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
949
Bigger than 90% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
98.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 71% above the Virginia average of 57.6%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
14.8:1
students per teacher
- 6% above state mean
Top 66% in Virginia - lower ratio than 34% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
44.4%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$16,474
per pupil, district-wide
- above Virginia avg of $15,892
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 316 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
90
in-school suspensions + 409 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 9.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 52.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 41 expulsions.
Student demographics
African American 82.7%
Hispanic or Latino 11.3%
White 5.2%
Two or More 0.4%
Asian 0.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: African American at 82.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 30.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 30.1, Vernon Johns Middle is less mixed than the Virginia school average of 53.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Petersburg City Public Schools reports $16,474 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Vernon Johns Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petersburg High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Walnut Hill Elementary | Smaller | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| Cool Spring Elementary | Smaller | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| Pleasants Lane Elementary | Smaller | No free-lunch data | Lower S:T ratio |
| Westview Early Childhood Education Center | Smaller | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Vernon Johns Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 574
- Students per teacher
- 15.5:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 540
- Students per teacher
- 14.2:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 493
- Students per teacher
- 12.6:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 418
- Students per teacher
- 19:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
Nationwide middle schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~949 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~14.8:1)
Frequently asked questions about Vernon Johns Middle
How many students attend Vernon Johns Middle?
Vernon Johns Middle has 949 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Petersburg, VA. CCD year-over-year: 921 (2022-23) → 901 (2023-24), nearly flat (-20).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Vernon Johns Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Vernon Johns Middle is 14.8:1, which is 6% higher than the Virginia average of 13.9:1 and 6% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Vernon Johns Middle?
98.7% of students at Vernon Johns Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Virginia average of 57.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Vernon Johns Middle?
The largest demographic group at Vernon Johns Middle is African American at 82.7% of enrollment, in Petersburg, VA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Vernon Johns Middle?
Vernon Johns Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 37/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Vernon Johns Middle rank among public schools in Petersburg?
By Resource Investment Index, Vernon Johns Middle ranks #4 of 7 public schools in Petersburg, VA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Petersburg on the city page.
What other schools are in Petersburg City Public Schools?
Besides Vernon Johns Middle, Petersburg City Public Schools also operates Petersburg High (1,215 students), Walnut Hill Elementary (574 students), and Cool Spring Elementary (540 students). See the Petersburg City Public Schools district page for the complete list.