Physical Fitness testing is an essential element of any health-related physical activity/physical education program.  It establishes a baseline from which students can set goals and check progress.  It also allows students to experience and to better understand the components of health-related fitness.

All students will now take a physical fitness test at AHS each semester.  Rather than comparing students to other students in the testing, our tests compare test scores to carefully researched and specially developed health standards.  By using these national standards which are called Healthy Fitness Zones, the test administrator/teacher, the student, and the parent knows whether or not the student meets certain levels of recommended fitness. 

We intend to use the testing and the information it provides us as a tool to help us teach our students ways to improve their individual level of fitness.  The short-term objective of our physical fitness educational program is to provide our students with opportunities to learn fitness concepts while participating in enjoyable activities that enhance fitness levels.  Our long term objectives are to provide students the cognitive information and skills to self-assess their own fitness levels and to be able to plan and implement their own fitness programs so they can maintain satisfactory levels of lifetime fitness through living an active lifestyle.₁

The tests we currently use to evaluate fitness are:

• Timed Flex Arm Hang to evaluate upper body strength
• Paced Push Ups to evaluate upper body strength
• Paced Curl Ups to evaluate abdominal strength
• Sit and Reach to evaluate flexibility
• Time Mile Run/Walk to evaluate endurance
• Height and Weight Measurement to ascertain Body Mass Index (BMI)

These tests are some of the tests used for the FITNESSGRAM program which is a nationally recognized, comprehensive health-related fitness and activity assessment and computerized reporting system.  This program was researched and developed by the Cooper Institute for Aerobics Research in Dallas, Texas. The program is endorsed by the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance and has been used throughout the nation for over 15 years by many educational institutions and fitness clubs/organizations.

   ₁ Resource:  pg. 5 Fitnessgram-Test Administration Manual; The Cooper Institute for Aerobics Research; Human Kinetics;1999