As obesity numbers hit record highs, a new audit finds hundreds of city schools are failing to provide the space for kids to begin to get in shape—and the teachers to help them do it. NY1’s Lindsey Christ filed this report.

At P.S. 28 in the Bronx, there's reading, writing and math. Another required course is not on the schedule, however: gym.

"I wish my school have it," says one student.

"We should do exercise so we could feel more better and more strong," another student says.

The state requires daily gym class in kindergarten through third grade and at least three days a week for older students, ut according to an audit Tuesday by the City Comptroller, 32 percent of the city's 1,700 public schools do not have a physical education teacher on staff, and 28 percent of the schools do not have a gym.  

In the South Bronx, where obesity rates are sky high, more than 40 percent of schools have no place for students to run around.

"The neighborhoods that are most impacted by lack of access to PE teachers or lack of space are neighborhoods such as the Bronx, Northern Manhattan or Central Brooklyn," says Sascha Murillo of New York Lawyers for the Public Interest.

The audit uses education department data, numbers NY1 has tried and failed to obtain in the past. The New York Lawyers for the Public Interest even took the city to court in 2013 to try to learn how many schools were out of compliance.

"School face a lot of barriers to providing their kids with a quality physical education," Murillo says.

That includes space, money and a lack of accountability. It doesn't seem like either the city or the state has been making sure schools are following the rules.

Education officials say the report overstates the problem, and that they're making changes, like providing more teacher training and collecting better data.

At P.S. 28, where every student qualifies for free lunch, parents say gym class should be part of their children's days.

“I don't like it. I even want to switch her to another school. It's very interesting that she doesn't have gym because I think it helps them,” says parent Maricela Gil.

She and other parents say they did not realize the school was required to provide phys. ed., and so they never complained.

"Now that I know, probably we might do something," Gil says.