SHAFTER, Calif. -- Shafter High School students are getting top marks in class, but it’s not because they’re hitting the books.

Those students pound the court everyday as part of their physical education class, but teachers said it’s not just basketball. Some classes dance to the popular children’s song “The Chicken Dance.”

Shafter High School teachers said Wednesday that those dance steps help get students physically fit.

ABC23 stopped at one physical education class Wednesday where students raised their heart rate and their scores on the California Physical Fitness Tests.

Every year, the state tests the physical fitness level for freshmen in six categories.

Shafter high students did better than other students across the state, including those in Kern County.

The California Department of Education says 46 percent of Shafter freshmen passed all six categories.

The state average is 36 percent. Shafter High did at least 30 percent better than McFarland High School.

McFarland only scored 14 percent.

One teacher attributed the low marks to a lack of space, teachers and money, but said they are fixing those problems.

One physical education teacher at Shafter high says parent involvement and nutrition courses also help their students keep up a healthy lifestyle.