Find Urgent Care today

Find and book appointments for:

School Physical

Reasons to Get One, What to Expect, Associated Risks & More

Key Points

  • School physicals are essential for preparing children for the upcoming school year by ensuring they are healthy and ready for academic activities.
  • The physical includes preventive screening, which gathers information about the child's and family's medical history to identify potential health risks.
  • Many schools require physicals before admission to ensure students are up-to-date with vaccinations and to assess the school's ability to cater to children with special needs.
  • The physical also includes behavioral screening for potential issues such as alcohol and drug abuse, sexual activity, and mental health disorders.
  • Despite their benefits, school physicals may involve invasive procedures like blood testing and vaccinations, which can cause discomfort, and may involve questions that make the child feel uncomfortable.

What is a School Physical?

Getting ready to send your kids back to school comes with a full to-do list. You probably have lots of school supplies to purchase, new clothes to find, and more. You also may need to take your child for their school physical. Depending on the state you live in and what grade your child is entering, this physical may be required before your child is allowed to enroll, but even if it isn’t, getting your child a physical before the start of the school year is never a bad idea. Your child’s school physical is important because their physician will make sure they are healthy enough to take on the school year successfully. 

5 Reasons You Would Need a School Physical

1. Preventive Screening

During a school physical, parents talk to doctors about their children’s past injuries, surgeries, and hospitalizations and about the family’s medical history. This gives the doctor insight into whether the child is at risk for heart disease, cancer, and other serious health conditions that run in the family or could stem from previous medical events. In some cases, doctors talk to your child about the safety and risks surrounding sex, smoking, and alcohol and drug use.

These types of preventive screening methods can help determine whether your child is at risk for preventable illnesses and diseases and certain mental health and behavioral disorders.[1] Your child might undergo blood, skin, and urine testing to be screened for these illnesses.

2. School Requirement

Many schools and school districts require children to receive a school physical before admittance.[2] A school physical helps ensure kids are up to date on vaccines, which protect your children from serious, life-threatening diseases. A school physical can also help schools determine whether they have the proper resources needed to educate children with special needs. Prior to the new school year, parents must turn in paperwork to schools that prove their children have received a school physical and the latest required vaccines.

3. Sports Requirement

Any child who plays sports in school is at risk for getting hurt or suffering an injury. Some schools advise children to receive a school physical or sports physical prior to playing sports.[3] This allows the school to prepare for any health or medical problems your child might have as a result of past injury or hospitalization or other factors. The doctor might also screen for allergic reactions to determine whether playing conditions, such as fields that attract bees and other stinging insects, could put certain kids at risk.

4. Behavioral Screening

A school physical might include behavioral screenings for alcohol and drug abuse, sexual activity, and mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression. Behavioral screenings also help determine whether your child experiences any developmental delays or problems that require treatment. Doctors ask children how they usually cope with negative emotions, such as anger and sadness, and they ask parents about changes at home that could indirectly affect the child’s behavior, such as the addition of a new family member. Children sometimes undergo screening for ADHD, which affects an estimated 5% of U.S. children.[4]

5. Vaccinations

Vaccinations are often part of a school physical. Many children receive required vaccinations before the age of 2 and booster shots every year thereafter as part of back-to-school physicals. Vaccines help protect your children against deadly, infectious illnesses and diseases, and they contribute to improved public safety.[5]

Vaccines administered during a school physical might include those that prevent hepatitis A and B, chickenpox, meningitis, HPV, influenza, and many other diseases and viruses.[6] Some vaccines cause body or muscle pain, discomfort, fever, and other symptoms, but doctors can prescribe pain relievers for children who experience these side effects.

Understanding a School Physical

A yearly school physical helps you monitor your child’s growth and development in terms of physical, emotional, and mental health. A school physical can screen your child for potential health problems and lower the risk for infectious illnesses and diseases using vaccinations. The purpose of a school physical is to ensure your child is in good overall health and meets certain health requirements put in place by schools, school districts, and school sports teams.

Risks of a School Physical

A school physical might require your child to undergo one or more invasive procedures, such as blood testing and vaccination. The doctor might ask your child questions that could make them feel embarrassed and uncomfortable, such as those pertaining to sexual activity and signs of puberty. Parents can either be present or absent during a school physical to make the experience more comfortable for their child.

Blood tests can cause discomfort and bruising at the site of needle entry, and dizziness or lightheadedness occurs in some instances. Vaccines can produce a range of side effects depending on the type of vaccine administered. For example, the chickenpox vaccine can produce side effects of fever and rash, and the influenza vaccine (flu shot) can cause side effects that include headache, cough, and fever.[7]

What to Expect With a School Physical

During a school physical, the doctor might ask the parents and child about the family’s medical history and about the child’s personal medical history. This helps the doctor identify whether the child is at risk for any serious genetic illnesses and diseases, making an early diagnosis possible.

At the appointment, the doctor records your child’s weight, height, blood pressure, and heart rate. Your child might also undergo vision and hearing testing and evaluations for posture, strength, and flexibility. The doctor might examine your child’s heart, lungs, abdomen, nose, mouth, teeth, and throat. Some doctors include other health screenings and services, such as drug testing, in the school physical.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor About a School Physical

  • How do I prepare for my child’s school physical?
  • Will my child receive vaccinations during the physical?
  • How many vaccinations will my child receive during the appointment?
  • Do the vaccines have any side effects?
  • How long do the vaccines last?
  • Can my child be diagnosed with a physical or mental illness during the appointment?
  • Does my child’s known health condition prevent them from going to school this year?
  • Is my child’s height and weight considered normal and healthy for their age?

School Physical May Also be Known as

  • School doctor’s exam
  •  
  • Back-to-school physical
  •  
  • Annual physical
  •  
  • Yearly physical
  •  
  • Pre-enrollment physical

Frequently asked questions

  • Why are school physicals important?

    School physicals are important as they ensure that the child is healthy and ready for the school year. They help identify potential health risks by gathering information about the child's and family's medical history.
  • What does a school physical include?

    A school physical includes preventive screening, behavioral screening, and often vaccinations. It also involves recording the child's weight, height, blood pressure, and heart rate, and performing a thorough examination of the child's overall health.
  • Are school physicals required for school admission?

    Yes, many schools require a physical before admitting a student. This is to ensure that students are up-to-date with their vaccinations and to check if the school can cater to children with special needs.
  • What is the purpose of behavioral screening in a school physical?

    The purpose of behavioral screening in a school physical is to identify potential issues such as alcohol and drug abuse, sexual activity, and mental health disorders.
  • Can a school physical identify potential health problems?

    Yes, a school physical can identify potential health problems by monitoring a child's growth and development and through preventive and behavioral screenings.
  • Are there any downsides to a school physical?

    Yes, a school physical might involve invasive procedures like blood testing and vaccinations, which can cause discomfort. Also, the doctor might ask questions that could make the child feel uncomfortable.
  • What kind of information is gathered during a school physical?

    During a school physical, doctors gather information about the child's past medical history and the family's medical history. They also record the child's weight, height, blood pressure, and heart rate.
  • Are vaccinations part of a school physical?

    Yes, vaccinations are often part of a school physical to protect children against deadly diseases.
7 Sources
Solv has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references.

Related Health Concerns

Anxiety

COVID-19 Vaccine

Canker Sore

Cuts

Depression

Food Allergies

Genital Herpes

Hepatitis B

Herpes

Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

Light Therapy

Pneumonia

Psoriatic Arthritis

Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Shortness of Breath

Snoring

Stress

Yellow Fever

Solv App

Quality healthcare is just a
click away with the Solv App

Book same-day care for you and your family

Find top providers near you
Choose in-person or video visits
Manage visits on-the-go
Get the FREE App

This site uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. By using Solv, you accept our use of cookies.