Posture tests are used to detect deviations from normal body alignment and prescribe corrective exercises or procedures to improve alignment. While it is most desirable to conduct such analyses early in life, detection and correction of deviations from normal body alignment can be done at any age (Pankey, 2000). The purpose of this study was to determine if there were differences in upper body posture alignment between males and females from two separate elementary grade levels. It was hypothesized that third grade students will have better overall upper body posture than fifth grade students and that males will exhibit better posture than their female counterparts. Subjects were randomly selected from four 3rd grade (6 males and females) and four 5th grade (6 males and females) classes. Each subject obtained parental permission before the study was conducted. A video camera was set up five feet from the evaluation site and measurements were taken on subjects from the lateral and posterior positions with the use of a motion analysis program (NEAT). Using the New York State Posture Rating Test (Johnson, 1986), each subject received a score based on 11 criterions recorded on a 5 to 1 rating scale with 5 being “excellent” and 1 as “problematic” for each criterion. A one-tailed t-test was conducted between males and females and differing grade levels. Males obtained overall mean values of 47.83 (+4.55) while females recorded a mean of 46.58 (+3.70). Third grade subjects obtained mean values of 48.75 (+4.18) while fifth graders recorded mean values of 45.67 (+3.55) respectively. There were no significant differences between overall boys and girls recorded postural ratings, but a significant difference was determined on measurements between subjects at the 3rd and 5th grade levels. This study reveals that better posture was observed with subjects in lower grades but there does not appear to be a significant difference in upper body posture between males and females overall. This study indicates that as kids get older their posture seems to decline. The decrease in upper body posture may be caused by the lack of physical activity or improper static posture while subjects are seated in class or at home for long periods of time. Developing postural muscles in the back and spine or stressing proper seating posture may help in correcting these deviations while children progress through elementary school.Keyword(s): measurement/evaluation, wellness/disease prevention