California School Kids’ Physical Fitness Test Results for 2012 Hold Steady
SACRAMENTO—Physical fitness scores for California’s school kids are holding steady, with about 31 percent of students posting healthy scores in all six of the tested areas for the second year in a row, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced today.
The 2012 Physical Fitness Test was administered to approximately 1.3 million fifth-, seventh- and ninth-graders, representing more than 93 percent of the total number of students enrolled in those grades in California public schools (Table 1). The state tracked the same groups of students—or “cohorts”—through the physical fitness tests in grades five, seven, and nine, which showed marked improvements in physical fitness over the years (Tables 6 and 7).
“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,” Torlakson said. “It affects more than their health—study after study has demonstrated the very clear link between physical fitness and academic achievement. While I am glad their fitness levels improve as they make their way through school, we owe it to California’s kids to give them more opportunities for exercise, along with better access to healthy foods and clean, fresh water.”
Those are the goals behind Torlakson’s Team California for Healthy Kids 
initiative, which engages celebrity athletes, community leaders, public health advocates, parents, teachers, and students in making healthy choices the easy choices. Torlakson is a teacher and longtime high school track and cross country coach who witnessed firsthand the link between physical health and wellness and success in school.
initiative, which engages celebrity athletes, community leaders, public health advocates, parents, teachers, and students in making healthy choices the easy choices. Torlakson is a teacher and longtime high school track and cross country coach who witnessed firsthand the link between physical health and wellness and success in school.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.
The FITNESSGRAM® was designed by The Cooper Institute to evaluate fitness performance and increase the likelihood students will adopt lifetime patterns of physical activity. The FITNESSGRAM® assesses six fitness areas: (1) aerobic capacity, (2) body composition, (3) abdominal strength, (4) trunk extensor strength, (5) upper body strength, and (6) flexibility. For aerobic capacity and body composition, students may be classified in the “Healthy Fitness Zone® (HFZ),” “Needs Improvement,” or “Needs Improvement—High Risk.” In the other four areas, students are classified more generally as either being in the HFZ or needing improvement. Table 2 provides a comparison by the six fitness areas for students in grades five, seven, and nine tested in 2011 and 2012. The 2012 Physical Fitness Test results show that 25 percent of the students in grade five, 32 percent in grade seven, and 37 percent in grade nine scored within the HFZ for all six areas of the test (Tables 4 and 5).
While aerobic capacity is an indicator of physical fitness, body composition is perhaps the most important indicator of who will develop future health problems. This year’s results show that almost a third, or 30 percent, of all students from grades five, seven, and nine are in the high-risk category for body composition.
The 2012 Physical Fitness Test results for schools, school districts, counties, and the state are available on the California Department of Education Web site.
The California Department of Education (CDE) is a state agency led by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson. For more information, please visit http://www.cde.ca.gov or by mobile device at http://m.cde.ca.gov/. You may also follow Superintendent Torlakson on Twitter and Facebook .
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Table 1:
2012 Estimated Percentage of Grade Five, Seven, and Nine Students
in Healthy Fitness Zone1 (HFZ) by Fitness Areas
Fitness Areas | Number of Grade 5 Students2 | Percent of Grade 5 Students in HFZ | Percent of Grade 5 Students in NI3 | Percent of Grade 5 Students in NI–High Risk4 | Number of Grade 7 Students2 | Percent of Grade 7 Students in HFZ | Percent of Grade 7 Students in NI3 | Percent of Grade 7 Students in NI–High Risk4 | Number of Grade 9 Students2 | Percent of Grade 9 Students in HFZ | Percent of Grade 9 Students in NI3 | Percent of Grade 9 Students in NI–High Risk4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aerobic Capacity | 449,122 | 62.3 | 29.6 | 8.1 | 440,541 | 63.6 | 24.9 | 11.5 | 441,162 | 62.4 | 24.7 | 12.9 |
Body Composition | 449,122 | 52.5 | 13.6 | 33.9 | 440,541 | 55.4 | 14.3 | 30.3 | 441,162 | 59.0 | 15.7 | 25.3 |
Abdominal Strength | 449,122 | 78.0 | 22.0 | N/A | 440,541 | 84.4 | 15.6 | N/A | 441,162 | 87.0 | 13.0 | N/A |
Trunk Extensor Strength | 449,122 | 86.8 | 13.2 | N/A | 440,541 | 89.5 | 10.5 | N/A | 441,162 | 91.4 | 8.6 | N/A |
Upper Body Strength | 449,122 | 68.1 | 31.9 | N/A | 440,541 | 71.9 | 28.1 | N/A | 441,162 | 76.6 | 23.4 | N/A |
Flexibility | 449,122 | 70.8 | 29.2 | N/A | 440,541 | 79.6 | 20.4 | N/A | 441,162 | 84.0 | 16.0 | N/A |
1 Healthy Fitness Zone is a registered trademark of The Cooper Institute.
2 Includes partially tested students.
3 NI is Needs Improvement.
4 Aerobic Capacity and Body Composition fitness areas have an additional performance standard, NI - High Risk. Students in this area have the potential for future health problems. The need for increased activity and eating a healthy controlled diet is more urgent for students in this category than those students in the NI category. NI–High Risk category does not exist for fitness areas that are denoted as N/A (not applicable). Healthy Fitness Zone standards applied to the fitness areas are located on the CDE PFT Program Resources Web page.
Table 2:
Comparison of 2011 and 2012 Results
Estimated Percentage of Grade Five, Seven, and Nine Students
in Healthy Fitness Zone1 (HFZ) by Fitness Areas
Fitness Areas | 2011 Percent of Grade 5 Students in HFZ2 | 2012 Percent of Grade 5 Students in HFZ2 | Percentage Point Change 2012 to 2011 Grade 5 | 2011 Percent of Grade 7 Students in HFZ2 | 2012 Percent of Grade 7 Students in HFZ2 | Percentage Point Change 2012 to 2011 Grade 7 | 2011 Percent of Grade 9 Students in HFZ2 | 2012 Percent of Grade 9 Students in HFZ2 | Percentage Point Change 2012 to 2011 Grade 9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aerobic Capacity | 61.4 | 62.3 | 0.9 | 63.0 | 63.6 | 0.6 | 61.7 | 62.4 | 0.7 |
Body Composition | 52.1 | 52.5 | 0.4 | 55.5 | 55.4 | -0.1 | 59.4 | 59.0 | -0.4 |
Abdominal Strength | 78.9 | 78.0 | -0.9 | 85.1 | 84.4 | -0.7 | 87.2 | 87.0 | -0.2 |
Trunk Extensor Strength | 87.4 | 86.8 | -0.6 | 90.2 | 89.5 | -0.7 | 92.0 | 91.4 | -0.6 |
Upper Body Strength | 69.0 | 68.1 | -0.9 | 72.2 | 71.9 | -0.3 | 77.3 | 76.6 | -0.7 |
Flexibility | 70.9 | 70.8 | -0.1 | 79.1 | 79.6 | 0.5 | 83.7 | 84.0 | 0.3 |
1 Healthy Fitness Zone is a registered trademark of The Cooper Institute.
2 Healthy Fitness Zone standards applied to the fitness areas are located on the CDE PFT Program Resources Web page.
Table 3:
Comparison of 2011 and 2012
Estimated Percentage of Grade Five, Seven, and Nine Students
in Needs Improvement (NI)–High Risk by Fitness Areas
Fitness Areas | 2011 Percent of Grade 5 Students in NI – High Risk1 | 2012 Percent of Grade 5 Students in NI – High Risk1 | Percentage Point Change 2012 to 2011 Grade 5 | 2011 Percent of Grade 7 Students in NI – High Risk1 | 2012 Percent of Grade 7 Students in NI – High Risk1 | Percentage Point Change 2012 to 2011 Grade 7 | 2011 Percent of Grade 9 Students in NI – High Risk1 | 2012 Percent of Grade 9 Students in NI – High Risk1 | Percentage Point Change 2012 to 2011 Grade 9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aerobic Capacity | 8.1 | 8.1 | 0.0 | 11.7 | 11.5 | -0.2 | 12.8 | 12.9 | 0.1 |
Body Composition | 34.2 | 33.9 | -0.3 | 30.3 | 30.3 | 0.0 | 25.0 | 25.3 | 0.3 |
1 Aerobic Capacity and Body Composition fitness areas have an additional performance standard, NI - High Risk. Students in this area have the potential for future health problems. The need for increased activity and eating a healthy controlled diet is more urgent for students in this category than those students in the NI category. Healthy Fitness Zone standards applied to the fitness areas are located on the CDE PFT Program Resources Web page.
Explanation of table contents: Line 1 shows the percentage of students who scored in the NI–High Risk for the Aerobic Capacity fitness area and the percentage point change from 2012 and 2011. Line 2 shows the percentage of students who scored in the NI–High Risk for the Body Composition fitness area and the percentage point change from 2012 and 2011. A positive percent change indicates there are more students in the NI–High Risk category. The desired results are a negative percentage point change indicating fewer students in the NI–High Risk category.
Table 4:
2012 Estimated Percentage of Grade Five, Seven, and Nine Students
Number of Fitness Areas in the Healthy Fitness Zone1 (HFZ)
Number of Fitness Areas in the Healthy Fitness Zone (HFZ)2 | Number of Grade 5 Students3 | Percent of Grade 5 Students in HFZ | Cumulative Percent of Grade 5 Students in HFZ4 | Number of Grade 7 Students3 | Percent of Grade 7 Students in HFZ | Cumulative Percent of Grade 7 Students in HFZ4 | Number of Grade 9 Students3 | Percent of Grade 9 Students in HFZ | Cumulative Percent of Grade 9 Students in HFZ4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6 of 6 | 113,692 | 25.3 | 25.3 | 140,535 | 31.9 | 31.9 | 160,965 | 36.5 | 36.5 |
5 of 6 | 104,073 | 23.2 | 48.5 | 101,796 | 23.1 | 55.0 | 101,033 | 22.9 | 59.4 |
4 of 6 | 89,446 | 19.9 | 68.4 | 85,097 | 19.3 | 74.3 | 84,145 | 19.1 | 78.5 |
3 of 6 | 68,614 | 15.3 | 83.7 | 60,582 | 13.8 | 88.1 | 53,089 | 12.0 | 90.5 |
2 of 6 | 45,969 | 10.2 | 93.9 | 34,950 | 7.9 | 96.0 | 26,674 | 6.0 | 96.5 |
1 of 6 | 22,052 | 4.9 | 98.8 | 14,047 | 3.2 | 99.2 | 11,031 | 2.5 | 99.0 |
0 of 6 | 5,276 | 1.2 | 100.0 | 3,534 | 0.8 | 100.0 | 4,225 | 1.0 | 100.0 |
Total Tested | 449,122 | 440,541 | 441,162 |
1 Healthy Fitness Zone is a registered trademark of The Cooper Institute.
2 HFZ standards applied to the fitness areas are located on the CDE PFT Program Resources Web page.
3 Includes partially tested students.
4 Percentages in columns may not add to 100 percent due to rounding.
Table 5:
Comparison of 2006 through 2012
Estimated Percentage of Grade Five, Seven, and Nine Students
in Healthy Fitness Zone1, 2 (HFZ) for 6-Out-of-6 Fitness Areas
2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 20113 | 20123 | Percent Change 2012 to 2006 | Percent Change 2012 to 2011 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Grade 5 | 25.6 | 27.1 | 28.5 | 29.2 | 29.0 | 25.2 | 25.3 | -0.3 | 0.1 |
Grade 7 | 29.6 | 30.9 | 32.9 | 34.2 | 35.0 | 32.1 | 31.9 | 2.3 | -0.2 |
Grade 9 | 27.4 | 30.1 | 35.6 | 37.9 | 38.7 | 36.8 | 36.5 | 9.1 | -0.3 |
1 Healthy Fitness Zone is a registered trademark of The Cooper Institute.
2 HFZ standards applied to the fitness areas are located on the CDE PFT Program Resources Web page.
3 Used updated HFZ standards for Aerobic Capacity and Body Composition fitness areas.
Table 6:
Estimated Percentage of Grade Five, Seven, and Nine Students
in Healthy Fitness Zone1, 2 (HFZ) by Fitness Areas
for Classes 2013, 2014, and 2015
Fitness Areas | Class of 2013 Grade 5 Percent of Students In HFZ | Class of 2013. Grade 7 Percent of Students In HFZ | Class of 2013 Grade 9 Percent of Students In HFZ | Class of 2014 Grade 5 Percent of Students In HFZ | Class of 2014 Grade 7 Percent of Students In HFZ | Class of 2014 Grade 9 Percent of Students In HFZ | Class of 2015 Grade 5 Percent of Students In HFZ | Class of 2015 Grade 7 Percent of Students In HFZ | Class of 2015 Grade 9 Percent of Students In HFZ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aerobic Capacity | 60.2 | 63.8 | 64.1 | 62.7 | 66.1 | 61.73 | 64.2 | 67.1 | 62.43 |
Body Composition | 67.4 | 68.4 | 71.3 | 67.9 | 68.7 | 59.44 | 68.4 | 68.8 | 59.04 |
Abdominal Strength | 80.6 | 84.6 | 87.0 | 80.2 | 84.8 | 87.2 | 80.6 | 85.3 | 87.0 |
Trunk Extensor Strength | 88.2 | 89.9 | 91.7 | 87.9 | 90.1 | 92.0 | 88.2 | 90.3 | 91.4 |
Upper Body Strength | 67.1 | 71.2 | 77.4 | 68.5 | 71.8 | 77.3 | 69.6 | 72.7 | 76.6 |
Flexibility | 66.6 | 76.3 | 82.7 | 68.1 | 77.4 | 83.7 | 69.6 | 78.7 | 84.0 |
1 Healthy Fitness Zone is a registered trademark of The Cooper Institute.
2 Healthy Fitness Zone standards applied to the fitness areas are located on the CDE PFT Program Resources Web page.
3 In 2011, The Cooper Institute changed the standards for the Aerobic Capacity fitness area. The Aerobic Capacity fitness area calculates an estimated VO2max (i.e., aerobic capacity) based upon student’s age, gender, time or laps, and Body Mass Index.
4 In 2011, The Cooper Institute changed the standards for the Body Composition fitness area to take into account differences in gender and maturation.
Table 7:
Estimated Percentage of Grade Five, Seven, and Nine Students
by the Number of Fitness Areas in the Healthy Fitness Zone1, 2 (HFZ)
for Classes 2013, 2014, and 2015
Number of Fitness Areas in the HFZ | Class of 2013 Grade 5 Percent of Students In HFZ | Class of 2013. Grade 7 Percent of Students In HFZ | Class of 2013 Grade 9 Percent of Students In HFZ | Class of 2014 Grade 5 Percent of Students In HFZ | Class of 2014 Grade 7 Percent of Students In HFZ | Class of 2014 Grade 9 Percent of Students In HFZ3 | Class of 2015 Grade 5 Percent of Students In HFZ | Class of 2015 Grade 7 Percent of Students In HFZ | Class of 2015 Grade 9 Percent of Students In HFZ3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6 of 6 | 25.6 | 32.9 | 38.7 | 27.1 | 34.2 | 36.8 | 28.5 | 35.0 | 36.5 |
5 of 6 | 26.4 | 26.4 | 27.4 | 26.3 | 26.5 | 22.6 | 26.6 | 26.8 | 22.9 |
4 of 6 | 20.5 | 18.1 | 15.9 | 20.2 | 17.8 | 19.3 | 19.6 | 17.8 | 19.1 |
3 of 6 | 14.0 | 12.1 | 9.6 | 13.7 | 11.5 | 12.2 | 13.2 | 11.2 | 12.0 |
2 of 6 | 8.2 | 6.6 | 5.0 | 8.0 | 6.4 | 5.9 | 7.7 | 6.1 | 6.0 |
1 of 6 | 3.7 | 2.8 | 2.2 | 3.6 | 2.7 | 2.4 | 3.4 | 2.5 | 2.5 |
0 of 6 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 1.0 |
1 Healthy Fitness Zone is a registered trademark of The Cooper Institute.
2 Healthy Fitness Zone standards applied to the fitness areas are located on the CDE PFT Program Resources Web page.
3 In 2011, The Cooper Institute changed the standards for the Aerobic Capacity and Body Composition fitness areas.
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Tom Torlakson — State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Communications Division, Room 5206, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100
Communications Division, Room 5206, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100
