Fifth graders in Nevada County appeared to have made the most progress in their physical fitness in the last year. The latest state numbers show 35% in the Grass Vallley Elementary School District passing all 6 testing standards, up 12 points from the year before and 10 points better than the state percentage. 5th, 7th, and 9th graders are tested, statewide. Peter Tira, with the State Department of Education, says students, overall, showed just a slight improvement in the six categories of aerobics, body composition, abdominal strength, trunk extension, upper body strength, and flexibility….
Meanwhile, 29% of 7th graders in the Grass Valley District passed all six categories, down 5 points from last year, but about 7 points better than statewide. And it was 41% of 9th graders in the Nevada Joint Union High School District, down 9 points from a year ago, but 5 points better than the statewide average. Tira says a bigger challenge is improving fitness for students when they’re not in school…
Tira says better physical fitness also offers better protection against illness.
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