Skip To Main Content

Logo Title

Health Screening Program

According to Article XIV of the School Code of the State of Pennsylvania, all school-aged children must be provided with the following health services unless a religious exemption has been granted:

  • Annual vision screening for each grade level
  • Annual height and weight measurement for each grade level
  • Hearing screening for children K through 3 and grades 7 and 11
  • Scoliosis screening for grades 6 and 7

The School Health Act of Pennsylvania also requires that:

  • Each child must have a physical exam in K or 1 and grades 6 and 11.
  • Each child must have a dental exam in K or 1 and grades 3 and 7.    

If you need to provide updated information from your child’s physician or dentist, you can find the forms listed on the menu of this page. 

You also are required to provide proof of the immunizations (visit link in menu) or a signed statement indicating your strong moral or ethical opposition to such immunizations.

What does a referral mean?

If you receive a referral after any school screening, it means that the screening detected a possible problem and further evaluation by a professional healthcare provider is recommended. The form is to be completed by your private physician, dentist or eye doctor and returned to the school nurse. As always, if you have any questions, contact the school nurse

Scoliosis Screening

The Pennsylvania Department of Health requires scoliosis screenings for all 7th-grade students.

Students who have submitted a private physical exam, dated after May 1, 2024, will not be required to participate in the school screening. All other students will be screened during their physical education class on either March 3 or March 4.

Additionally, students may be exempt from the screening if it conflicts with the parent/guardian’s religious beliefs.
If you would like to be present for your child’s screening, request an exemption, or submit a private physical exam, please contact the school nurse by February 24.

Physical and Dental Exam

Physical Exam

A physical exam is required of students entering kindergarten and in grades 6 and 11.

It is recommended that this exam be performed by your private physician who is more familiar with your child's medical history. The required Private Physical Form may be downloaded here or obtained from the school nurse. The private exam may be done within one year from the start of the school year.

Students without documentation of a physical examination will be scheduled for an exam with the school physician during school hours. Parents are welcome to attend the examinations with their students as scheduled. These requirements allow for exemption due to religious beliefs. Please contact the school nurse if you are requesting exemption.

*In grade 11, a sports physical can also be used for the required school physical.

Dental Exam

A dental exam is required of students entering kindergarten and grades 3 and 7.

It is recommended that this exam be performed by your private physician who is more familiar with your child's medical history. The required Dental Exam Form may be downloaded here or obtained from the school nurse. The private exam may be done within one year from the start of the school year.

Students without documentation of a dental examination will be scheduled for an exam with the school dentist during school hours. Parents are welcome to attend the examinations with their students as scheduled. These requirements allow for exemption due to religious beliefs. Please contact the school nurse if you are requesting exemption.

Is Your Child Overweight?

The most obvious answer to that question is to do an eyeball test—simply look at your child to determine whether his or her weight and height are out of proportion. If you believe your child is overweight, ask your school nurse, doctor, nurse practitioner or physician assistant to evaluate your child.

Another, more objective, measure is BMI, or Body Mass Index. A BMI is not a measure of percent body fat, but an expression of the relationship of a person's weight to his or her height. Standard charts based on children's age and gender, similar to those used in a doctor's office to plot children's growth, are used to plot the BMI. This plot provides a percentile that indicates whether a child is underweight, normal weight, at risk of being overweight or overweight.

Exactly how to determine and plot your child's BMI percentile to assess his or her level of health risk can be found on the Centers for Disease Control website. Your school nurse can do this as well.

*Note that the procedures for determining a child's BMI differs from those for adults and require use of appropriate charts based on age and gender. BMI calculations for children are assessed based on a percentile for age and BMI.

Find the weight status category for the calculated BMI-for-age percentile as shown in the following table. These categories are based on expert committee recommendations.
 
Weight Status Category Percentile Range
Underweight Less than the 5th percentile
Healthy weight 5th percentile to less than the 85th percentile
Overweight 85th to less than the 95th percentile
Obese Equal to or greater than the 95th percentile
Source: NASA. (2003). Promoting Healthy Weight. Castle Rock, CO.