There is an inverse relationship between physical activity and all cause mortality as well as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and some cancers. The health related behaviors that contribute to life threatening disease begin early in life and progress if interventions are not successful. Both social norms and self-efficacy levels have been shown to impact health related behavior. The primary purpose of this study was to determine if fitness levels, social norms and self-efficacy differ by race or gender in elementary students. A secondary purpose was to determine if social norms and self-efficacy are related to fitness levels in elementary students. The study population was a sample of 426 4th and 5th grade students (aged 9.99 ± 0.99 years) from urban and suburban schools in the Midwest. Students completed the Fitnessgram fitness test along with a 30-item questionnaire that examined social norms and self-efficacy as they relate to physical fitness. Races and genders were compared using ANOVA with a Tukey Post Hoc. The relationship between fitness levels, social norms and self efficacy was examined using Pearson’s Product Correlations. Descriptive statistics for the fitness scores that were significantly different, based on race (p=0.00), are as follows: Caucasian (n=228); weight=85.39 ± 22.45 pounds; BMI=18.9 ± 0.6; mile run=679.64 ± 154.89 seconds; curl up=36.51 ± 23.24; pushups=12.80 ± 9.55. African American (n=107); weight=98.07 ± 35.38 pounds; BMI=20.8 ± 0.6; mile run=769.97 ± 195.00 seconds; curl up=26.28 ± 17.74; pushups=8.51 ± 8.6. Hispanic (n=97); weight=93.6 ± 26.5 pounds; BMI=20.8 ± 0.6; mile run=860.79 ± 231.67 seconds; curl up=12.59 ± 12.35; pushups=6.25 ± 7.47. There was also a significant difference in social norms and self-efficacy by race with Caucasian students reporting higher self-efficacy for physical activity and more positive, activity related social norms than their minority counterparts. Both social norms and race were significantly correlated (p=0.00) with mile run times, sit-ups, and curls-ups. Targeting minorities early in the education process through education that serves to increase self-efficacy and physical activity levels is imperative if the chronic disease patterns of the minority population in the United States are to change. Keyword(s): elementary education, physical activity