There is evidence to support that healthy students perform better in school.  For example, student participation in the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) School Breakfast Program (SBP) is associated with increased academic grades and standardized test scores, reduced absenteeism, and improved cognitive performance (e.g., memory).  Similarly, students who are physically active in school tend to have better grades, school attendance, cognitive performance (e.g., memory), and classroom behaviors (e.g., on-task behavior).  Finally, students who have support to manage their chronic health conditions have increased school attendance and do better academically.  All of these school practices improve educational outcomes and improve the overall health and wellness of students.

Source: Parents for Healthy Schools Guide (CDC)

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This content was prepared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP), Division of Population Health (DPH) in collaboration with Action for Healthy Kids (AFHK) with conceptual, technical, and editorial assistance from subject matter experts at CDC and others from the fields of health and education.