Rhetoric lamenting the dangerously low fitness levels of children in this country is daunting. Indeed, the increasing incidence of type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease and other maladies in younger populations is cause for concern. Mitchell, Castelli and Strainer (2003) reported very low student fitness scores by school in South Carolina, (mean of 28% passing scores). They suggested scores may have been affected by teacher data collection errors. The purpose of this study was to examine high school fitness levels by student rather than by school, limiting data collection errors. Data were collected by physical education teachers on 3,042 students (1,521 males and 1,521 females) on Fitnessgram. Data were submitted as part of a larger program assessment requirement (cf. Rink & Williams, 2003). Student performance of the curl up was videotaped by teachers and a trained group of experts used these videotaped performances to determine whether or not to accept the rest of the data set (if experts reached 80% agreement on a 20% random sample of teacher scores on their student performance of the curl up test, the whole fitness data set were accepted—data not achieving this level of agreement were not included in this analysis). Students were tested on five areas: cardiovascular fitness (mile or Pacer), body composition (BMI, electrical impedance, or skin fold), upper body strength (push ups), abdominal strength (curl ups), and flexibility (back saver sit and reach). Results suggest some gender differences in student performances, but all scores were higher than results reported by school (Mitchell, et al, 2003). More than half of the males (56.9%) and fewer than half of the females (46.7%) reached the healthy fitness zone on all five tests. When students missed only one item on the test battery, males and females both missed cardiovascular endurance most often (females = 39.5%; males = 35.4%), and body composition second (females = 24%; males = 33.6%). The third most commonly missed item was flexibility for males (13.9%) and upper body strength for females (15.2%). While these data are more encouraging than what has previously been reported in California (California Department of Education, 2003), there remains cause for concern when slightly less than half of all students are achieving health related fitness levels touted as necessary for maintaining a healthy quality of life. Implications for curricular decisions regarding activity choices for students and policy implications for program assessment criteria are discussed.Keyword(s): assessment, exercise/fitness/physical activity, physical education PK-12