Petersburg City Public Schools

What Petersburg City Public Schools does

Petersburg City Public Schools (PCPS) is a Virginia public school division serving approximately 4,500 students from preschool through adult education across nine schools in the City of Petersburg, Virginia. The division operates with an $80.3M school division budget (with a separate $73M figure cited for instructional, administrative, and operational functions) and ~672-900 employees, depending on the source. PCPS delivers K-12 education plus a portfolio of Career & Technical Education programs (Culinary Arts, Nursing, Auto Mechanics, Cosmetology, JROTC, Childcare), Language Instruction Educational Program (LIEP) services for English learners, Special Education, McKinney-Vento homeless student support, free breakfast and lunch for all students, and athletics — with Petersburg High School winning the VHSL Class 3 Boys Basketball State Championship in 2026 after a 52-year drought.

Underlying technology is third-party EdTech, not proprietary. PCPS runs on PowerSchool as its Student Information System, Clever for single sign-on, ParentSquare for school-to-family communications, MySchoolBucks for meal payments, GoFan for athletics ticketing, Frontline for substitute teacher absence management, and Peachjar for digital flyer distribution. Classroom instructional resources include Kiddom, MyPerspectives, Studies Weekly, enVision, Khan Academy, Kahoot, Quizlet, Duolingo, Reading A-Z, and Starfall. The 'Petersburg Forward 2031' five-year strategic plan (approved February 2026) organizes priorities around student achievement, talent acquisition, operational excellence, fiscal stewardship, and family/community engagement.

Business model is non-commercial. PCPS is a government entity funded primarily by Virginia state per-pupil allocations and federal education grants; education is provided at no cost to district residents. Ancillary revenue streams include facilities rental, food service operations through a partnership with Taher, Inc., and Medicaid school-based services reimbursement. Governance rests with an elected seven-member School Board (one per ward) led in 2026 by Board Chair Kenneth Pritchett and Vice Chair Taccarri Tucker, with Superintendent Yolonda Brown — formerly Chief Academic Officer at Atlanta Public Schools — driving a student-centered transformation agenda.

Name

Petersburg City Public Schools

Legal name

Petersburg City Public Schools

Website

https://petersburg.k12.va.us

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Petersburg City Public Schools is a Virginia public school division serving approximately 4,500 preschool-through-adult students across nine schools in Petersburg, VA, operating on an $80.3M budget funded primarily by state per-pupil allocations and federal grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Public Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public School Districts (K–12) (EDADABAA)

Keywords

• Public K-12 education
• Career Technical Education
• Special education services
• English language learning
• School nutrition programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Petersburg, VA

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Per-Pupil State and Federal Funding: Primary revenue is derived from Virginia state per-pupil funding and federal education grants. The division operates an $80.3M school division budget and oversees a $73 million budget for instructional, administrative, and operational functions.
2. Food Services Program: School nutrition program providing free meals to all PCPS students during the instructional day with no forms or eligibility requirements. The program operates in partnership with Taher, Inc. and provides nutritious lunch options. Summer Food Service Program provides meals at community sites.
3. Facilities Rental: The division offers facilities rental programs generating revenue from community use of school buildings.
4. Medicaid School-Based Services: PCPS participates in Medicaid school services program where schools share information with Medicaid about potentially eligible students at no cost to families, generating reimbursement for school-based health services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Petersburg City Public Schools is a public school division that delivers free K-12 and adult education to approximately 4,500 students across nine school sites in Petersburg, Virginia. Its core offerings include core academic instruction, Career and Technical Education (culinary arts, nursing, automotive, cosmetology, JROTC, childcare), special education services, English language learner support (LIEP/Welcome Center), STEAM education, athletics, school nutrition, and student transportation. The division is funded primarily through state per-pupil funding, federal grants, and city allocations, operating with an approximately $80.3 million annual school division budget.

Product overview

Petersburg City Public Schools is an urban public school division serving approximately 4,200-4,500 students across nine schools in Petersburg, Virginia. The district offers a comprehensive educational portfolio spanning core academic instruction, Career & Technical Education (CTE) programs (Culinary Arts, Nursing, Auto Mechanics, Cosmetology, JROTC, Childcare), Language Instruction Educational Program (LIEP) for English learners, and STEAM education. Supporting services include Special Education, Student Support Services (McKinney-Vento, mental health, truancy intervention), Health Services, School Nutrition (in partnership with Taher), and Transportation. The division operates under the 'Petersburg Forward 2031' five-year strategic plan and utilizes technology platforms including ParentSquare for communication, PowerSchool for student information management, and Clever for single sign-on. JROTC programs at both high school and middle school levels have achieved perfect accreditation scores.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Petersburg City Public Schools District Urban public school division serving approximately 4,500 students from preschool through adult education across nine school sites in Petersburg, Virginia, providing free public education under state and federal funding.
• Career and Technical Education (CTE) Vocational programs including Culinary Arts, JROTC, Cosmetology & Barbering, Nursing, Auto Mechanics, and Childcare that prepare secondary students for workforce readiness and career pathways.
• Language Instruction Educational Program (LIEP) English learner support program ensuring ELL students have equal access to division curricula and extracurricular activities, with a Welcome Center providing resources and interpretation services for English Language Learners.
• STEAM Education Interdisciplinary approach integrating Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics to foster critical thinking, creativity, and innovation in students across the division.
• Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) Military education program at Petersburg High School and Vernon Johns Middle School focused on leadership, discipline, teamwork, and physical fitness, achieving perfect 100 scores on Cognia JPA accreditation inspections.
• Special Education Services Comprehensive special education program providing specially designed instruction, Section 504 accommodations, homebound services, Child Find, and individualized support for students with disabilities.
• Student Support Services Services including truancy intervention, McKinney-Vento homeless assistance, mental health resources, Title IX support, and home instruction for at-risk students.
• School Nutrition Program Food services partnership with Taher, Inc. providing nutritious meals including free breakfast and lunch for all students during the instructional day, with summer meal service programs at community sites.
• Transportation Services School bus transportation with trained drivers holding Commercial Driver's Licenses, including safety protocols and McKinney-Vento transportation to school of origin for homeless students.
• Health Services School nursing services with 10 nurses across schools managing chronic illnesses, emergencies, infectious disease prevention, medication administration, and health screenings.
• Athletics Program Middle and high school athletic programs including basketball (boys and girls varsity), soccer, and other sports with an expanded department including Assistant Athletic Director. Petersburg High School boys basketball won the 2026 VHSL Class 3 State Championship, the program's first title since 1974.
• Sydney Health Mobile App (Employee Benefits) Anthem Sydney mobile application providing PCPS employees secure access to health benefits information, plan details, virtual care, and wellness resources as part of the employee benefits package.
• Gifted Education Gifted education program offering identification processes, a Local Plan for the Education of the Gifted, and a Gifted Advisory Committee providing differentiated instruction for gifted learners.
• Adult Continuing Education Adult continuing education programs serving adult learners in the Petersburg community as part of the school division's preschool-through-adult service continuum.
• Summer Meal Service Program USDA Summer Food Service Program providing free meals to children during summer break at multiple community sites including churches and libraries.
• Facilities Rental Program Facilities rental program generating revenue from community use of school buildings for events and activities outside of instructional hours.
• New Walnut Hill Elementary School New PK-5 elementary school facility under construction with a 700-student enrollment capacity, replacing the original Walnut Hill Elementary as part of the division's capital improvement program.
• Vernon Johns Middle School Medical Classroom State-of-the-art medical classroom at Vernon Johns Middle School providing hands-on learning experiences and early exposure to healthcare career pathways for middle school students.

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration19 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and significant.

• Virginia School Boards Association (VSBA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 February 2026VSBA supports PCPS through the annual Southside Regional Art Contest, Take Your Legislator to School Month (hosting Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan at PHS), School Board Appreciation Month recognition, and the VSBA Fiscal Governance Cohort Program completed by PCPS.
• HCA Virginia (HCA Healthcare Capital Division Virginia)significantGTM or Marketing Partner · 23 April 2025HCA Virginia provided a $25K grant in partnership with Communities In Schools of Petersburg, Inc. to create a state-of-the-art medical classroom at Vernon Johns Middle School, providing hands-on learning experiences and early exposure to healthcare career pathways for middle school students.
• Communities In Schools Tri CitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAll nine PCPS schools contain Communities In Schools (CIS) programs, which provide integrated student supports through the Community Schools model. CIS Tri Cities partners with PCPS to address basic student needs, emotional and mental health, family and community engagement, and student engagement and motivation.
• Taher, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTaher, Inc. is the food services management partner for PCPS, providing nutritious lunch options to students. The partnership has introduced students to different culinary dishes and expanded food offerings, including Chef John Sugimura's Tasting Japan Tour culinary program.
• Virginia Department of Education (VDOE)coreOthersVDOE is the governing agency for all Virginia public schools. PCPS receives school security equipment grants ($198,240 in 2025) and operates under VDOE accreditation standards and School Performance and Support Framework. VDOE designated all nine PCPS schools as Community Schools.
• Gilbane Building CompanysignificantImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSelected through PPEA unsolicited proposal process (August 2025) with competing proposals reviewed by September 2025 deadline. The School Board approved an Interim Agreement with Gilbane Building Company and Moody Nolan on May 20, 2026 for the new Walnut Hill Elementary School construction.
• Moody NolansignificantImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArchitecture firm partnered with Gilbane Building Company on the new Walnut Hill Elementary School construction project through PPEA process. Interim Agreement approved by School Board on May 20, 2026.
• McDonough Bolyard Peck (MBP)significantImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMBP was engaged on October 1, 2025 as a third-party consultant to support the procurement and evaluation process for the new Walnut Hill Elementary School construction project.
• Virginia State University, Shaw University, Norfolk State University, Hampton University, NC A&T State University, and other HBCUssignificantChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPCPS Human Resources actively recruits talent through university career fairs at multiple HBCUs including Virginia State University, Shaw University, Elizabeth City State University, Winston Salem State University, Hampton University, NC A&T State University, Norfolk State University, North Carolina Central University, Longwood University, and others.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Norfolk Public Schools: Urban Virginia public school division of similar scale serving Norfolk, with comparable student demographics and reliance on state per-pupil funding, providing a natural benchmark for Petersburg's urban-district performance and operations.
• Hampton City Schools: Virginia public school division of comparable mid-sized urban scale, operating under the same VDOE accreditation framework and serving a similar mix of student demographics in southeastern Virginia.
• Richmond Public Schools: Neighboring urban Virginia public school division comparable in mission, demographic profile, and operating challenges to PCPS; both are small-to-mid-sized urban districts serving predominantly minority, economically disadvantaged student populations in central Virginia.
• Newport News Public Schools: Mid-sized urban Virginia public school division with similar VDOE oversight, comparable CTE and JROTC programs, and overlapping regional competitive context for teacher recruitment in the Hampton Roads / central Virginia labor market.
• Hopewell City Public Schools: Very small neighboring Virginia public school division (Tri-Cities area) that shares geographic catchment and demographic profile with PCPS, providing a tightly comparable peer for scale and resource benchmarking.

Regional players

• Colonial Heights Public Schools: Small neighboring Virginia public school division in the Tri-Cities area, comparable in absolute scale and regional labor market dynamics to PCPS.
• Chesterfield County Public Schools: Large suburban Virginia public school division in the same region as Petersburg, offering a contrast in scale and resources that helps contextualize PCPS performance versus larger, better-resourced neighbors.
• Henrico County Public Schools: Large suburban Virginia public school division adjacent to the Richmond-Petersburg corridor; comparable in that it operates under the same VDOE framework but differs in scale and demographics, serving as a benchmark for what additional resources can enable.
• Prince George County Public Schools: Neighboring Virginia public school division serving the suburban/rural community adjacent to Petersburg, providing geographic proximity comparability but a contrasting demographic and resource base.
• Sussex County Public Schools: Small rural Virginia public school division operating under the same VDOE accreditation framework, providing a regional comparator for small-district resource constraints and operational models.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@PetersburgCityPublicSchools
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pcpsva

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles23 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Petersburg City Public Schools