Less Than One-Third of CA Schoolchildren Physically Fit, According to Annual Test

Local elementary and middle school students are less fit then their average peers across the state, according to a new study. Local high school students, on the other hand, are significantly more fit.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced on Thursday the results of an annual physical fitness test administered to fifth, seventh and ninth grade public schoolchildren across the state. Overall, less than one third of the students achieved a score in the Healthy Fitness Zone in all six fitness areas tested.

The six areas are aerobic capacity, body composition, abdominal strength, trunk extensor strength, upper body strength and flexibility. To score in the Healthy Fitness Zone on the test, for example, a ninth grade male would have to run a nine-minute mile and do a minimum of 16 push-ups and 24 curl-ups.

In the , 27.8 percent of fifth graders achieved scores in the Healthy Fitness Zone in all six areas, compared to 28.7 statewide.

Of the district’s seventh graders, 32 percent achieved scores considered healthy in all six fitness areas, compared to 34.6 percent statewide.

In contrast, ten percent more high school freshmen in SLUSD were considered fit by the test compared to their peers across the state. Among ninth graders from San Leandro High School who were tested, 48.7 percent achieved scores in the Healthy Fitness Zone across the board, compared to 38.5 percent statewide.

SLUSD students did better on the test of aerobic capacity, which Torlakson called in a news release “perhaps the most important indicator of physical fitness.” Approximately 66 percent of fifth graders, 70 percent of seventh graders, and 66 percent of ninth graders in San Leandro Unified got scores in the Healthy Fitness Zone for aerobic capacity.

Statewide, approximately 66 percent of 5th graders, 70 percent of seventh graders, and 66 percent of ninth graders met the healthy fitness zone goal for aerobic capacity.

Nearly all California public school students (91 percent) in grades five, seven, and nine took at least one of the six tests.

The results of the annual test come at a time when childhood obesity is on the rise and schools are slashing physical education programs to save money.

In February, the SLUSD Board of Education one of two specialist-taught physical education periods in elementary school to help balance the district’s budget. Three to four physical education positions are .

The California Education Code requires elementary schools to give students 200 minutes of physical education every 10 days, not including lunch or recess. Therefore, classroom teachers will have to teach PE, and they’ll lose one of their classroom prep periods.

At the same time, rather ironically, the district will soon be , playgrounds and tracks using funds from the $50 million Measure M "health and fitness" facilities bond approved by voters last November.

Along with the state fitness test results, Superintendent Torlakson announced plans for a statewide campaign geared toward improving the health and fitness of California's 6.2 million schoolchildren.

"Nothing is more important than the health of our children, and today's results show that many of them need a helping hand to get fit and stay in shape," Torlakson said in a news release.

Torlakson, who has coached track and cross-country, said the campaign “would link schools with community leaders and athletes to foster new partnerships and put a spotlight on local efforts to encourage students to get more exercise – both at school and at home,” according to the news release.

You can see all the fitness scores for San Leandro Unified School District here.

Read about how San Lorenzo Unified students did on the test on.