Burbank, Glendale students’ fitness levels fare better than state average

Glendale and Burbank students were not close to perfect in achieving all the fitness standards they were challenged to meet, but their scores fared better than the state average overall, according to results that state officials released recently.

Each year, officials test fifth-, seventh- and ninth-graders across six fitness categories: aerobic capacity, body composition, abdominal strength, trunk extension strength, upper-body strength and flexibility.

Locally, students ran 1 mile to test their aerobic capacity, and 77.1% of Glendale Unified fifth-graders landed in the “healthy fitness zone” aimed for by educators.

Meanwhile, 67.9% of Glendale’s seventh-graders and 68.4% of ninth-graders achieved the same in that category.

In Burbank, 72.7% of fifth-graders landed in the healthy fitness zone after running 1 mile, while 75.2% of seventh-graders were successful as well as 68.4% of ninth-graders.

When it came to meeting all six fitness standards, 44.6% of Glendale fifth-graders succeeded, while 38.8% of seventh-graders did, along with 50.7% of ninth-graders.

In Burbank, 26.8% of fifth-graders succeeded in all six standards, while 34.4% of seventh-graders and 36.8% of ninth-graders did the same.

In comparison, 26.4% of fifth-graders in California met all six fitness standards, while 32.5% of seventh-graders did, along with 37.6% of ninth-graders.

“The release of these results is a good reminder that all parents and role models need to encourage children to eat nutritious foods and exercise regularly,” said State Supt. Tom Torlakson in a statement. “Students need to be healthy to succeed in the classroom and beyond.”

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Kelly Corrigan, kelly.corrigan@latimes.com

Twitter: @kellymcorrigan