National Honor Society membership is a valued and precious thing. It is a badge of honor and a testament to fine work and fine personal qualities-not only in the student’s own school and community, but across the land. Most honors at the disposal of the school are only partial, in the sense that they recognize some specialized ability, skill, or talent. But the National Honor Society encompasses the person as a whole, not only the quality of his/her school work but also the quality of his/her person. NHS is well recognized in institutions of higher education, and membership may be an important aid in the receiving of scholarships and fellowships, even after years have passed. Whether in the world of education or in the world of work, it is no small thing to be able to show that one was recognized as outstanding in ability and character during the adolescent years. 

Active membership in the National Honor Society is open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors in high school. The criteria by which members are chosen for the National Honor Society are Scholarship, Leadership, Service, and Character. The following are the qualifying criteria for NHS membership. A five-member Faculty Council will review each student’s portfolio. A student will be selected for membership by a majority vote of the Faculty Council.

● SCHOLARSHIP: The minimum scholarship requirement is a grade average of “B” or 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. This is based on a student’s cumulative grade average: for a sophomore after 3 semesters, for a junior after 5 semesters, for a senior after 7 semesters.

● LEADERSHIP: The student must be in a leadership role in at least one school-related curricular, co-curricular, or extra-curricular organization. This could include organization office holder or team captain. Verification will be in the form of a description from an adult sponsor/advisor of the organization substantiating the leadership exhibited in the organization. In addition, a statement from the sponsor or advisor attesting to the fact that the student, although not an office holder or team captain, is a step-forward and take-charge informal leader will satisfy the requirement for leadership.

● SERVICE: The student must provide at least 10 hours of service within the local communities during at least 2 different occurrences. Verification will be required for all service hours by completing a form prior to the activity and getting a signature from a non-related adult sponsor, preferably of a specific organization (church youth group, 4-H, scouts, etc), once service is completed. Forms must be submitted within 1 month of the service taking place. Service hours cannot come from the student’s place(s) of employment or for family members. Students also cannot count activities that occur during the school day. Click HERE for a copy of the service form.

● CHARACTER: The student earns citizenship marks ranging between 1 and 5, with 1 being “excellent” and 5 being “poor.” A rating of 3 is “average” which indicates the student is exhibiting the expected behaviors in the classroom. Nothing more, nothing less. National Honor Society members should exhibit citizenship characteristics well above “average.” In order to be considered for membership, the student will have an average of 1.5 or better (1.0 being the best) from his/her teachers. In addition to the citizenship average, the Faculty Council will seek input from other staff members who have contact, direct or indirect, with the student. 

To be selected as a member of the National Honor Society, a student must meet all four criteria. Even if a student meets the minimum requirements for scholarship and character, they still have to prove their qualifications in service and leadership before being accepted into NHS.

Once a student is selected for membership, he/she will be expected to continue to meet the four criteria, in order to remain a member in good standing. In order to maintain their membership, members will have to write a letter to the faculty council substantiating what they are doing to maintain membership in terms of service and leadership.

For any questions related to National Honor Society, please contact Mrs. Chipman who is the faculty adviser.