The Presidential Fitness Test was a physical fitness assessment administered in public schools across the United States. It was established in 1966 by President Lyndon B. Johnson, building on earlier initiatives by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who founded the President's Council on Youth Fitness in 1956 after a study showed American children were less fit than European children.
The test consisted of five events: curl-ups (or partial curl-ups), shuttle run, endurance run or walk (one mile for ages 13 and older), pull-ups (or right-angle push-ups for boys, flexed-arm hang for girls), and the V-sit reach (or sit and reach). Students who scored at or above the 85th percentile on all five events received the Presidential Physical Fitness Award.
In 2012, the program was replaced by the Presidential Youth Fitness Program (PYFP), which uses the FITNESSGRAM assessment developed by the Cooper Institute. The PYFP focuses on health-related fitness rather than athletic performance, emphasizing aerobic capacity, body composition, muscular strength, endurance, and flexibility. The change aimed to promote lifelong physical activity and reduce emphasis on competitive performance.
As of 2026, the Presidential Youth Fitness Program remains the official fitness assessment for US schools, with resources provided by the President's Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition. The program is voluntary and schools can choose to participate. No major updates or changes have been announced since its implementation.
