The walls are part of a broad new fitness effort being launched by the district, which recently received a federal grant of $1 million over three years. That money will pay for Fitness Rocks, a series of health-related activities during and after school.

Students will be invited to become members of Fitness Rocks clubs, where they will participate in rock-climbing and other activities as well as learn about healthy eating habits. Outings to recreational spots will expose students to sports such as tennis, volleyball, soccer and golf.

Covington received the $1 million grant in part because its students are battling obesity at a rate higher than the national average.

Based on measurements taken last year, 25 percent of Covington's elementary students are overweight, compared to the national average of 15 percent. An additional 18 percent of Covington students are at-risk for being overweight.

There is a link between the district's high rate of poverty and the health of its students, official say. Eighteen percent of households in the school district are below the poverty level, according to the Census. Median household income is $28,530.

This compares to, for example, median income of $53,787 in the Boone County School District, where 6 percent of households fall below the poverty line.

"Fresh fruits and vegetables are more expensive than processed food," said Janice Wilkerson, Covington's director of prevention services. "Just being able to budget and afford these things is a challenge."

Schools can help by arming families with knowledge, Wilkerson said. For years, many parents believed orange juice was a nutritious option. Now it's considered part of the problem because of its high sugar content, Wilkerson said. That's the sort of information that schools can pass on.

"We know that parents want their children to be healthy," Wilkerson said.

E-mail kgutierrez@enquirer.com