Seventh and ninth grade students in the William S. Hart Union High School District tend to do better at the state's physical fitness standards than their counterparts in schools across the state, according to figures released this week by the California Department of Education. The tests are given to fifth, seventh and ninth graders across the state each year and measure six standards - aerobic capacity, body composition, abdominal strength, trunk extension, upper body strength and flexibility.
At the seventh grade level, Hart District students made progress in the number of students who passed all six of the state standards within the prescribed Healthy Fitness Zone (HFZ).
In 2008, 34.0 percent of Hart District seventh graders scored in the HFZ on all six standards, increasing to 39.3 percent in 2009. Results on the state level showed 34.1 percent of seventh graders scoring in the HFZ in all six areas.
At the ninth grade level, Hart District students scored well above state averages. Forty-six percent of Hart District ninth graders scored in the HFZ for all six standards, compared to 41.9 percent in 2008. The state average for ninth graders was 37.9 percent in the HFZ on all six standards.
In aerobic capacity, considered the most important of the six areas tested, 72.4 percent of Hart District seventh graders scored in the HFZ in this year's results, compared with 63.4 percent in 1008. In the ninth grade, 73.9 percent of local students ranked in the HFZ this year, compared to 69.3 percent for last year. The state average is 64.4 percent of students in grades 7 and 9 scoring in the HFZ in aerobic capacity.
The Hart District's strong scores are due to a concerted effort by physical education classes to incorporate these strengths into the year-round curriculum, according to Dave LeBarron, the Hart District's director of curriculum. "All of our schools are adding body conditioning that addresses these points as part of the regular P.E. program. These tests are holding P.E. accountable for the production of healthy activities for students, and our teachers are rising to the challenge."
LeBarron will be meeting with P.E. department chairs across the district to look at test results and find ways to improve even more. "We have done well, and now we want to determine how we can do even better," he explained.
Scores released this week actually reflect tests taken in the 2008-09 school year. Individual student results have been sent home for all students who took the test, giving the student's score in each area and whether that student is within the HFZ or needs improvement on that standard.
The goal of the California physical fitness test is to facilitate learning about physical activity and physical fitness concepts in order to increase the likelihood students will adopt lifetime patterns of physical activity. A score in the HFZ represents the level of fitness thought to provide some protection from the potential health risks imposed by a lack of fitness in this measure.
The HFZ reflects reasonable levels of fitness that can be attained by most students that participate regularly in various types of physical activity. Recent research correlates good aerobic capacity with a reduction in many health problems, according to the California Department of Education.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Pat Willett - Community Liaison Officer - (661) 259-0033 Ext. 227
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