Elementary PE
State-Mandated Physical Fitness Testing
California public schools are required to annually administer the Physical Fitness Test
to students in grades five, seven, and nine. The Fitnessgram is the test we
administer. For a passing score, a student must score in the “healthy fitness zone”
for all six areas the test assesses:
1. Aerobic Capacity (mile-run test)2. Body Composition (skinfold test—measures body fat/lean tissue percentage)3. Abdominal Strength and Endurance (abdominal curl-up test)4. Trunk Strength and Flexibility (trunk-lift test)5. Upper Body Strength and Endurance (push-up test)6. Overall Flexibility (sit-and-reach test)
In preparation for the Fitnessgram, each student in the Elementary Physical
Education program participates in a battery of fitness stations that develop all six
major areas listed above. Proper technique and an appropriate progression of
repetition or time are emphasized so that students are well-prepared when fitness
testing season begins.
The fitness testing “window” begins in February and ends in May. Below is a sample
schedule (may vary by school):
DATES TESTS
February—April: Push-ups, Mile run, Abdominal Curl-ups
April—May: Sit-and-Reach, Trunk-lift, Skin-fold
For more information regarding the Fitnessgram and past scores/results, these links
are provided:
California Department of Education’s Fitness Testing Home Page
CDE’s Test Results Page: from here you can select school, county, district, or state.