The 2012 Physical Fitness Test was administered to approximately 1.3 million fifth-, seventh- and ninth-graders in California with about 31 percent of students posting healthy scores in all six of the tested areas, it was announced recently.
“When we can call fewer than one out of three of our kids physically fit, we know we have a tremendous public health challenge on our hands,” State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson said. “It affects more than their health—study after study has demonstrated the very clear link between physical fitness and academic achievement.
However, Torlakson said he was pleased to observe that students generally became more fit as they grew older, scoring better in Grades 7 and 9 than they did as fifth graders.
The FITNESSGRAM test is designed to evaluate fitness performance has six individual tests including aerobic capacity, body composition, abdominal strength, trunk extensor strength, upper body strength, and flexibility.
The California State Board of Education designated the FITNESSGRAM in 1996 as the required Physical Fitness Test that local educational agencies administer to students annually in grades five, seven, and nine. State law requires all public schools in California to report these results in their School Accountability Report Cards and provide students with their individual results.
To test Aerobic Capacity, students are measured on a one-mile run. Body Composition is quantified by skinfold measurements. Abdominal Strenth and Endurance is measured by curl-ups, and Truck Extensor Strength and Flexibility is measured by a trunk lift (in inches.) Upper Body Strength and Endurance is measured by 90 degree push-ups, a modified pull-up and flexed arm hang. Lastly, Flexibility of measured by a sit-and-reach and a shoulder stretch (Touching fingertips together behind the back on both the right and left sides.)
Torlakson’s Team California for Healthy Kids initiative engages celebrity athletes, community leaders, public health advocates, parents, teachers, and students to partner together to help students make healthy choices.
In the Temecula Valley Unified School District, 2,128 fifth-graders, 2,222 seventh-graders and 2,341 ninth-graders were given the tests. The scores for Temecula students are listed below or can be viewed here on the CDE website.
Physical Fitness AreaTotal Tested¹ in Grade 5Number Grade 5 Students in HFZ²% Grade 5 Students in HFZ% Grade 5 Students in Needs Improve- ment% Grade 5 Students in Needs Improve- ment - High Risk Aerobic Capacity 2,128 1,647 77.4 17.0 5.6 Body Composition 2,128 1,334 62.7 12.0 25.3 Abdominal Strength 2,128 1,784 83.8 16.2 N/A Trunk Extension Strength 2,128 1,948 91.5 8.5 N/A Upper Body Strength 2,128 1,677 78.8 21.2 N/A Flexibility 2,128 1,530 71.9 28.1 N/A Total Tested¹ in Grade 7Number Grade 7 Students in HFZ²% Grade 7 Students in HFZ% Grade 7 Students in Needs Improve- ment% Grade 7 Students in Needs Improve- ment - High Risk Aerobic Capacity: 2,222 1,776 79.9 13.8 6.3 Body Composition: 2,222 1,522 68.5 11.7 19.8 Abdominal Strength: 2,222 2,075 93.4 6.6 N/A Trunk Extension Strength: 2,222 2,131 95.9 4.1 N/A Upper Body Strength: 2,222 1,964 88.4 11.6 N/A Flexibility: 2,222 1,944 87.5 12.5 N/ATotal Tested¹ in Grade 9
Number Grade 9 Students in HFZ²% Grade 9 Students in HFZ% Grade 9 Students in Needs Improve- ment% Grade 9 Students in Needs Improve- ment - High Risk Aerobic Capacity: 2,3411,803 77.0 14.5 8.5 Body Composition: 2,341
1,523 65.1 14.5 20.4 Abdominal Strength: 2,341
2,200 94.0 6.0 N/A Trunk Extension Strength: 2,341
2,217 94.7 5.3 N/A Upper Body Strength: 2,341
1,900 81.2 18.8 N/A Flexibility: 2,341
2,084 89.0 11.0 N/A
