Bentworth School District

Skip to main content
Mobile Menu Search
Welcome to the Bentworth School District!!                  Title 1 Distinguished Elementary School               Ranked as a U.S. News Best Middle School              Identified as a Schools To Watch Middle School  (3x)            National Blue Ribbon High School                       Ranked as a U.S. News Best High School                Bentworth High School Global Educational Excellence Award            
Health Services » Health Screenings

Health Screenings

 PA School Health Law requirements:
 
Growth Screenings ( Height and Weights for BMI)    
  • K-12
Visions Screenings 
  • K-12
 
Hearing Screenings   
  • K-3rd grade, 7th grade and 11th grade
 
Scoliosis Screenings
  • 6th & 7th grade
 
Required Physical Exams:
  • upon entry to school
  • 6th grade
  • 11th grade
 
Required Dental Exams:
  • upon entry to school
  • 3rd grade
  • 7th grade
 
Students are measured for height and weight as part of the yearly school health growth screening program. A Body Mass Index (BMI) for Age percentile is calculated. This is used as a guideline to help assess whether a person may be overweight or underweight.
 

Being either overweight or underweight can put a person at risk for certain health problems. A student who is overweight has an increased risk of developing serious conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and certain cancers. A student who is underweight has an increased risk for heart problems, loss of bone mass, and anemia. Being underweight may also be a sign of an underlying eating disorder.

Many factors, including sports participation or family history, can influence height and weight in children and adolescents. BMI should be considered a screening tool and not a definitive measure of overweight and obesity as the indicator does have limitations. For examples, some athletes and serious dancers may have a higher than expected BMI due to their increased muscle mass, which weighs more than fat mass.

Your child’s health care provider is the best person to evaluate whether or not his/her measurements are within a healthy range. Keeping in mind that this is only a health screening, please share this results with you child’s health care provider, who may suggest changes in eating or physical activity or may have other suggestions.

The table below can help you understand better where your child’s BMI % falls:

  • Underweight: BMI 0% - 4.99%

  • At Risk for Underweight: BMI 5% - 14.99 %

  • Probably at a Healthy Weight: BMI 15 % - 85.99 %

  • At Risk for Overweight: BMI 86 % - 94.99 %.

  • Overweight: BMI 95 % - 100 %