Seventh- and ninth-graders rate better than counterparts
statewide
San Benito County seventh- and ninth-graders ranked above the
state average in physical fitness test results released last week
by the Department of Education, while local fifth-graders scored
lower.
The results are from the 2009-10 FITNESSGRAM, a mandatory
program revamped in 2006 that measures the fitness and strength of
students in fifth, seventh and ninth grade. Students are tested in
six areas
– aerobic capacity, body composition, abdominal strength, trunk
extensor strength, upper body strength and flexibility.
Statewide, 28.7 percent of fifth-graders scored in the Healthy
Fitness Zone for all six areas, while 34.6 percent of
seventh-graders and 38.5 percent of ninth-graders met those
criteria. The fifth-grade scores were down from last year, while
the seventh- and ninth-grade results increased.
Seventh- and ninth-graders rate better than counterparts statewide
San Benito County seventh- and ninth-graders ranked above the state average in physical fitness test results released last week by the Department of Education, while local fifth-graders scored lower.
The results are from the 2009-10 FITNESSGRAM, a mandatory program revamped in 2006 that measures the fitness and strength of students in fifth, seventh and ninth grade. Students are tested in six areas – aerobic capacity, body composition, abdominal strength, trunk extensor strength, upper body strength and flexibility.
Statewide, 28.7 percent of fifth-graders scored in the Healthy Fitness Zone for all six areas, while 34.6 percent of seventh-graders and 38.5 percent of ninth-graders met those criteria. The fifth-grade scores were down from last year, while the seventh- and ninth-grade results increased.
In San Benito County, 23.3 percent of fifth-graders met the requirements in all six fitness criteria – 5.4 percent below the state average. More than 35 percent of local seventh-graders met the criteria, compared to 34.6 statewide, while 40.6 of local ninth-graders scored in the healthy zone for all six areas, 2.1 percent above the state average.
To reach the Healthy Fitness Zone, a ninth-grade male needs to run a mile within nine minutes, and perform a minimum of 16 push-ups and 24 curl-ups.
“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,” Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson said in a press release.
The test was given to approximately 1.3 million students, with about 91 percent of students in grades 5, 7 and 9 administered at least one of the FITNESSGRAM tests.
Along with the release of the results, Torlakson announced a new strategy to improve the fitness of California’s 6.2 million school children. The campaign would link schools with community leaders and athletes to foster new partnerships to encourage students to get more exercise at school and at home, he said.
“The Team California for Healthy Kids campaign will help students adopt the healthy habits that will help them succeed in the classroom today – and help them stay healthy over a lifetime.”
While only one in three students tested posted a healthy score in the fitness tests, nearly two-thirds of those tested were in the zone for aerobic capacity, what state officials say is perhaps the most important indicator of physical fitness. Also, the students who were in fifth grade when the standards were revised in 2006 have shown steady improvement over similar students in the classes of 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012, state officials said.
For complete results, visit www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/pf/pftresults.asp.
