Kensington Students More Physically Fit Than State Average, Tests Show

fifth graders were more physically fit than the state average in all five of the state fitness tests given at the school, according to a report released by state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson.

The California physical fitness report for the 2009-2010 school year compiled results of tests in six fitness categories for students in fifth, seventh and ninth grades. Kensington students were tested in five skills.

In aerobic capacity, 69 percent of Kensington fifth graders met the "healthy fitness zone" requirements for aerobic capacity, compared to 65.3 percent of the state's fifth graders on the whole. State Department of Education officials said aerobic capacity is perhaps the most important indicator of physical fitness.

More striking was the difference in body composition, with 85.9 percent of Kensington students scoring in healthy category, compared to 68.5 percent in California overall.

In abdominal strength, 83.1 percent of Kensington's 71 fifth graders were in the healthy fitness zone, compared to 79.4 percent for the state at large. For trunk extensor strength, Kensington had 91.5 percent in the healthy category, compared to 88.2 percent for California fifth graders on average.

And in upper body strength, the fifth graders at Kensington scored 73.2 percent in healthy zone, compared to 69.4 percent for the state average.

About 1.32 million students took the tests in grades five, seven and nine. To score in the healthy fitness zone, a ninth grade boy, for example, would run a mile within nine minutes and perform a minimum of 16 push-ups and 24 curl-ups, the state Department of Education report said.

Click for a related story on physical fitness test results for El Cerrito public school students.