A study tested two hypotheses: (1) If physical performance relates to mental performance, then aerobically fit individuals will demonstrate higher academic achievement or predicted achievement; and (2) The integrity of the cardiovascular system (as measured by distance covered in 12 minutes) will have some degree of positive association with school achievement, predicted achievement, and cognitive test scores. Randomly selected students (n=284) at Furman University (South Carolina), stratified by gender and year in school, served as subjects to test these hypotheses. All were enrolled in a required physical fitness course. Measures were taken of change in cardiovascular fitness resulting from 12 weeks of training, body fat change over the training period, and strength of the forearm muscles. Factor analysis using an oblique varimax rotation yielded three distinct factors. Grip strength and 12 minute run distances loaded heavily on the first factor, all the cognitive variables on the second, and only body fat percentage loaded on the third. No meaningful relationships were found between cognitive ability and the three physical factors. Results indicate that measures of the physical domain do not significantly improve the prediction of cognitive achievement. (JD)