The differences in academic achievement in fit, healthy, and unfit 7th grade students

There is an abundance of research showing significant positive relationships between academic achievement and physical fitness. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between academic achievement and different levels of physical fitness. The participants were 283 7th grade students from a small, rural middle school in Northern California during 2011/12, 2012/13, 2014/15 academic school years. Academic achievement data came from the STAR (Standardized Testing and Reporting) test and CAASPP (California Assessment of Student Learning and Progress) test. Physical fitness data came from the FITNESSGRAM Physical Fitness Test. A MANOVA was performed on the academic achievement and physical fitness data. Using Pillai’s Trace, there was not a significant difference between groups (number of fitness tests passed) and language arts and math achievement scores, ν = .012, F(4, 560) = .838, p = .502. The results of this study do not confirm a significant positive relationship between academic achievement and physical fitness as demonstrated by prior research. Some variables that may have influenced results in the current study include higher student achievement and higher student Socio-Economic Status compared to statewide levels. The current study examined academic achievement and overall physical fitness, instead of examining certain aspects of physical fitness that have been shown to have the strongest correlation with academic achievement. Furthermore, low physical fitness performance standards, and the cross-sectional nature of the study, may have influenced results. Further research is needed into variables that influence student achievement as well determining amounts of vigorous physical activity and levels of physical fitness needed to produce desirable results