The following information is copied directly from the Fitnessgram website and describes the 3 zones of fitness. These are the standards that District 308 follows when doing fitness testing.
Healthy Fitness Zone® Standards Overview
FITNESSGRAM® is unique, and widely accepted, because the fitness assessments are evaluated using criterion-referenced standards. An advantage of criterion-referenced standards, over percentile norms, is they are based on levels of fitness for good health. The amount of fitness needed for good health differs between boys and girls and it also varies across age. The FITNESSGRAM Healthy Fitness Zone standards have been developed to take this into account.
Nationally recognized experts on the FITNESSGRAM Scientific Advisory Board evaluate research, assess best practices and adjust the Healthy Fitness Zone standards, calculations, and protocols to match the best science available. With more than 30 years of experience, this renowned board is dedicated to ensuring that FITNESSGRAM remains the best tool for using fitness assessments, reporting, data analysis, and communication to support fitness education.
The FITNESSGRAM program classifies fitness levels using discrete zones to allow for more personalized feedback. The two primary zones are the Healthy Fitness Zone and the Needs Improvement (NI) Zone; however, for aerobic capacity and body composition two distinct NI Zones (NI and NI-Health Risk) are used to make further distinctions in fitness. The use of three zones makes it possible to provide more effective prescriptive messages to youth since the zones are based on clear differences in potential health risks.
Healthy Fitness Zone (HFZ)
The goal in FITNESSGRAM is for children to achieve the Healthy Fitness Zone on as many assessments as possible. Because only modest amounts of activity are needed to obtain health benefits, most students who perform regular physical activity will be able to achieve a score that will place them within or above the Healthy Fitness Zone on most FITNESSGRAM test items. If children are in the Healthy Fitness Zone they are considered to have sufficient fitness for good health.
Needs Improvement
Indicates that if the student continues to track at this level there is the potential for future health risks. However, this potential is possible, not probable. Increased activity as well as eating a healthy, controlled diet could delay or reverse this potential risk.
Needs Improvement - Health Risk
Indicates that if the student continues to track at this level there is a clear potential for future health problems (a more probable risk). The need for increased activity and eating a healthy diet is more urgent for students in this category than those in the Needs Improvement zone.
The use of three zones allows clear indicators of risk (Needs Improvement-Health Risk) and clear indicators of good fitness and low risk(Healthy Fitness Zone)
To log on and look at your fitness scores or to make goals based on fitness scores, go to www.focusedfitness.org
Your username is your student ID# and your password is your last name.
Fitness Standards for Girls. You need to score the number shown to be in the healthy fitness zone for that event.
Age Curl-ups 90 degree push-up Flexed arm hang Sit and Reach Mile
10 >12 >7 >4 9 11:22
11 >15 >7 >6 10 11:17
12 >18 >7 >7 10 11:05
13 >18 >7 >8 10 10:23
14 >18 >7 >8 10 10:06
15 >18 >7 >8 15 9:58
Girls standards for the 20 METER PACER RUN. HFZ = healthy fitness zone,
NI =needs improvement, and NI - Health Risk
Age HFZ NI NI- health risk
10 >40 37 to 40 <37
11 >40 37 to 40 <37
12 >40 37 to 40 <37
13 >40 36 to 39 <36
14 >39 36 to 39 <36
15 >39 36 to 39 <36
< Less than or Equal to >Greater than or Equal to
Fitness Standards for Boys. You need to score the number shown to be in the healthy fitness zone for that event.
Age Curl-ups 90 degree push-up Flexed arm hang Sit and Reach Mile
10 >12 >7 >4 8 9:48
11 >15 >8 >6 8 9:20
12 >18 >10 >10 8 8:40
13 >21 >12 >12 8 8:06
14 >24 >14 >15 8 7:44
15 >24 >16 >15 8 7:30
Boys standards for the 20 METER PACER RUN. HFZ = healthy fitness zone,
NI = needs improvement, and NI - Health Risk
Age HFZ NI NI- health risk
10 >40 37 to 40 <37
11 >40 37 to 40 <37
12 >40 38 to 40 <38
13 >41 39 to 41 <39
14 >43 40 to 42 <40
15 >44 41 to 44 <41
< Less than or Equal to >Greater than or Equal to
This is the main body of the letter that went out to parents in early October 2016 regarding fitness testing.
The purpose of this letter is to share information regarding a new Illinois physical fitness testing requirement effective with the 2016-17 school year.
The Goal: In an effort to meet State Goal 20 which is to "Achieve and maintain a health-enhancing level of physical fitness based upon continual self-assessment", we are required to implement this new assessment. According to research, continual self-assessment and fitness testing can help students identify their fitness levels and set goals for improvement. Gathering this data enables parents and schools to better understand the health trends within their region and encourage enhancements in a school’s physical education program.
The Planning: SD 308 physical education teachers have completed the required training for each of the four required P. E. assessments.
1. Aerobic Capacity: PACER 3. Muscular Endurance: Curl-up
2. Flexibility: Sit and Reach 4. Muscular Strength: Push-up
The Implementing: All students in grades 3-12 (only grades 4-12 for aerobic capacity), unless otherwise exempted, will be tested at least twice a year.
Confidentiality- The district has established procedures and protocols to ensure the confidentiality of individual student assessment results consistent with the requirements of the Illinois School Records Act and Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.
The Object of the Results: Results will be reported to the State of Illinois for grades 5, 7, and 10. The fitness data will not contain any individual student names or assessment results. Only a school’s aggregate data of those tested by grade and gender will be reported.
Video of the FITNESS curl up test - www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hXWZ0wwc3s
Video of the FITNESSGRAM push up test -
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBvUWBUCYXg&list=PLEHzuIOJYtUqn7q5-KvqqXgEiQiF_aCKj&index=9
Video of the FITNESSGRAM 20 meter Pacer endurance run - www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3JLBMSY324&list=PLmW0HUj56UjMyY4bz_uuMX1IOTDT-UHLg&index=3
Video of the FITNESSGRAM back saver sit and reach test - www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgaGCX20UlQ
Healthy Fitness Zone® Standards Overview
FITNESSGRAM® is unique, and widely accepted, because the fitness assessments are evaluated using criterion-referenced standards. An advantage of criterion-referenced standards, over percentile norms, is they are based on levels of fitness for good health. The amount of fitness needed for good health differs between boys and girls and it also varies across age. The FITNESSGRAM Healthy Fitness Zone standards have been developed to take this into account.
Nationally recognized experts on the FITNESSGRAM Scientific Advisory Board evaluate research, assess best practices and adjust the Healthy Fitness Zone standards, calculations, and protocols to match the best science available. With more than 30 years of experience, this renowned board is dedicated to ensuring that FITNESSGRAM remains the best tool for using fitness assessments, reporting, data analysis, and communication to support fitness education.
The FITNESSGRAM program classifies fitness levels using discrete zones to allow for more personalized feedback. The two primary zones are the Healthy Fitness Zone and the Needs Improvement (NI) Zone; however, for aerobic capacity and body composition two distinct NI Zones (NI and NI-Health Risk) are used to make further distinctions in fitness. The use of three zones makes it possible to provide more effective prescriptive messages to youth since the zones are based on clear differences in potential health risks.
Healthy Fitness Zone (HFZ)
The goal in FITNESSGRAM is for children to achieve the Healthy Fitness Zone on as many assessments as possible. Because only modest amounts of activity are needed to obtain health benefits, most students who perform regular physical activity will be able to achieve a score that will place them within or above the Healthy Fitness Zone on most FITNESSGRAM test items. If children are in the Healthy Fitness Zone they are considered to have sufficient fitness for good health.
Needs Improvement
Indicates that if the student continues to track at this level there is the potential for future health risks. However, this potential is possible, not probable. Increased activity as well as eating a healthy, controlled diet could delay or reverse this potential risk.
Needs Improvement - Health Risk
Indicates that if the student continues to track at this level there is a clear potential for future health problems (a more probable risk). The need for increased activity and eating a healthy diet is more urgent for students in this category than those in the Needs Improvement zone.
The use of three zones allows clear indicators of risk (Needs Improvement-Health Risk) and clear indicators of good fitness and low risk(Healthy Fitness Zone)
To log on and look at your fitness scores or to make goals based on fitness scores, go to www.focusedfitness.org
Your username is your student ID# and your password is your last name.
Fitness Standards for Girls. You need to score the number shown to be in the healthy fitness zone for that event.
Age Curl-ups 90 degree push-up Flexed arm hang Sit and Reach Mile
10 >12 >7 >4 9 11:22
11 >15 >7 >6 10 11:17
12 >18 >7 >7 10 11:05
13 >18 >7 >8 10 10:23
14 >18 >7 >8 10 10:06
15 >18 >7 >8 15 9:58
Girls standards for the 20 METER PACER RUN. HFZ = healthy fitness zone,
NI =needs improvement, and NI - Health Risk
Age HFZ NI NI- health risk
10 >40 37 to 40 <37
11 >40 37 to 40 <37
12 >40 37 to 40 <37
13 >40 36 to 39 <36
14 >39 36 to 39 <36
15 >39 36 to 39 <36
< Less than or Equal to >Greater than or Equal to
Fitness Standards for Boys. You need to score the number shown to be in the healthy fitness zone for that event.
Age Curl-ups 90 degree push-up Flexed arm hang Sit and Reach Mile
10 >12 >7 >4 8 9:48
11 >15 >8 >6 8 9:20
12 >18 >10 >10 8 8:40
13 >21 >12 >12 8 8:06
14 >24 >14 >15 8 7:44
15 >24 >16 >15 8 7:30
Boys standards for the 20 METER PACER RUN. HFZ = healthy fitness zone,
NI = needs improvement, and NI - Health Risk
Age HFZ NI NI- health risk
10 >40 37 to 40 <37
11 >40 37 to 40 <37
12 >40 38 to 40 <38
13 >41 39 to 41 <39
14 >43 40 to 42 <40
15 >44 41 to 44 <41
< Less than or Equal to >Greater than or Equal to
This is the main body of the letter that went out to parents in early October 2016 regarding fitness testing.
The purpose of this letter is to share information regarding a new Illinois physical fitness testing requirement effective with the 2016-17 school year.
The Goal: In an effort to meet State Goal 20 which is to "Achieve and maintain a health-enhancing level of physical fitness based upon continual self-assessment", we are required to implement this new assessment. According to research, continual self-assessment and fitness testing can help students identify their fitness levels and set goals for improvement. Gathering this data enables parents and schools to better understand the health trends within their region and encourage enhancements in a school’s physical education program.
The Planning: SD 308 physical education teachers have completed the required training for each of the four required P. E. assessments.
1. Aerobic Capacity: PACER 3. Muscular Endurance: Curl-up
2. Flexibility: Sit and Reach 4. Muscular Strength: Push-up
The Implementing: All students in grades 3-12 (only grades 4-12 for aerobic capacity), unless otherwise exempted, will be tested at least twice a year.
Confidentiality- The district has established procedures and protocols to ensure the confidentiality of individual student assessment results consistent with the requirements of the Illinois School Records Act and Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.
The Object of the Results: Results will be reported to the State of Illinois for grades 5, 7, and 10. The fitness data will not contain any individual student names or assessment results. Only a school’s aggregate data of those tested by grade and gender will be reported.
Video of the FITNESS curl up test - www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hXWZ0wwc3s
Video of the FITNESSGRAM push up test -
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBvUWBUCYXg&list=PLEHzuIOJYtUqn7q5-KvqqXgEiQiF_aCKj&index=9
Video of the FITNESSGRAM 20 meter Pacer endurance run - www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3JLBMSY324&list=PLmW0HUj56UjMyY4bz_uuMX1IOTDT-UHLg&index=3
Video of the FITNESSGRAM back saver sit and reach test - www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgaGCX20UlQ