| For immediate release November 30, 2011 |
Contact:
Larry Slonaker, SCCOE Phone: (408) 453-6662 |
County students show mixed results in Fitness Test
SAN JOSE, CA – Students in Santa Clara County continue to slightly outperform their statewide counterparts in the state's Physical Fitness Test (PFT), although there is some indication of decline in county students' performance from the previous year, according to results released on Wednesday.
According to an analysis by staff in the Assessment and Accountability Department of the Santa Clara County Office of Education:
- Since 2005, the percentage of county students meeting the "Healthy Fitness Zone" in all six of the test's areas increased by two percentage points, from 31 percent to 33 percent. However, while that most recent number surpasses the state average by two percentage points, it also reflects a decline from 2010 of five percentage points.
- The percentage of county students demonstrating fitness in the area of body composition decreased significantly–by 15 percentage points–from the previous year.
- County students show evidence of becoming more fit as they get older. In all six categories, student scores improved from grade five to grade seven; and from grade seven to grade nine.
The entire analysis can be found on the COE website, at www.sccoe.org.
California school districts are required to administer the PFT annually to all students in grades five, seven and nine. The tests are designed to evaluate health-related fitness and to assist students in establishing lifetime habits of regular physical activity. Student performance in the six areas is reported in two categories: Healthy Fitness Zone (HFZ) and Needs Improvement (not in the HFZ).
Date last updated: November 30, 2011
