Most Walnut Creek Schools Score Well In Physical Fitness Tests

Walnut Creek students for the most part scored better than the state average is physical fitness test results released Wednesday by the state Superintendent of Schools.

The tests given last school year measured fifth graders, seventh graders and ninth graders in six different fitness categories.

Superintendent Tom Torlakson said overall California showed slight improvement in their conditioning.

“The simple fact is that healthy kids learn better,” Torlakson said. “I’m pleased to see the slow shift toward better health continue, but we are nowhere near the end of this effort. To help them succeed in school and in life, California’s young people need more access to physical activity, fresh, healthy food and clean water.”

Patch used the body composition category to compare districts and schools. The links in the story will take you to the results of all six categories.

Statewide, 53 percent of fifth graders were listed in the Healthy Fitness Zone in body composition while 56 percent of seventh graders and 58 percent of ninth graders were at that level.

In the Walnut Creek School District, 71 percent of fifth graders and 72 percent of seventh graders were in the healthy zone in body composition.

On the east side of town in the Mt. Diablo Unified School District, the test showed 72 percent of Walnut Acres fifth graders were in that zone while 63 percent of Bancroft fifth graders and 69 percent of Valle Verde fifth graders reached that level.

Foothill Middle School saw 72 percent of its seventh graders hit the healthy zone while 78 percent of Las Lomas High freshmen and 69 percent of Northgate High ninth graders were at that level.