PETERSBURG, VA (March 11, 2026)—Petersburg City Public Schools is pleased to announce that the Petersburg High School and Vernon Johns Middle School Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) programs received a perfect score of 100 on the JROTC Program for Accreditation (JPA) Inspection.

Every JROTC program must undergo this inspection every three years to ensure they meet the rigorous, research-based performance standards of the national accrediting agency known as Cognia (formerly AdvancED). This year, JROTC earned a perfect score due to their diligence and commitment to adhere to the standards set by the accreditation agency.

“The accreditation process is thorough and comprehensive. Every three years, our JROTC program must undergo this process to ensure that we are meeting the highest standards under the national accrediting agency. I am very proud of our results–they reflect the hard work of our staff and students. JROTC provides our students with a unique opportunity to learn about leadership, discipline, teamwork, and physical fitness. I am grateful to the accrediting agency for their support,” said Colonel Joyce Junior, who oversees the JROTC Program.

The JROTC accreditation evaluation process ensures that the curriculum meets national education standards. Scores serve as a benchmark for how effectively programs meet national teaching and learning standards set forth by Cognia. More than 36,000 schools and systems in 85 countries are a part of the Cognia global network.

“I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to our Petersburg High School and Vernon Johns Middle School JROTC programs on successfully completing their Program for Accreditation and receiving an astounding 100% score! This achievement is a testament to their perseverance and unwavering commitment to our JROTC programs in PCPS,” said Superintendent Yolonda Brown.

To learn more about JROTC accreditation, please visit the Cognia website.  

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Petersburg City Public Schools serves approximately 4,500 students from preschool to adult across nine schools in Petersburg, VA. PCPS is home to 672 staff members who serve the school division community. The mission of PCPS is to develop and empower students through innovation and collaboration so they demonstrate virtue, good character and make meaningful contributions to society. The vision of PCPS is to transform and expand opportunities for learning so that every student graduates with a life filled with choices: Enrolled, Enlisted, Employed, and Entrepreneurship.