When the National Honor Society was founded in 1921, the hope of NASSP was to create an organization that would recognize and encourage academic achievement while also developing other characteristics essential to citizens in a democracy. These ideals of scholarship, character, service, and leadership remain as relevant today as they were in 1921.

 

Now, more than 90 years later, the National Honor Society has become prestigious organization, ranking high among administrators, faculty members, students, parents, and residents of the school community. Its reputation for excellence is the result of years of commitment on the part of everyone involved.

 

Through NHS chapter service activities, members maintain and extend the qualities that earned them selection. Membership is, thus, both an honor and a commitment.

 

At this time of year, many juniors and seniors are interested in what the requirements for National Honor Society are and how they can meet them.  Below are general guidelines to consider:

 

1.  Scholarship:  Students must have a simple GPA of 3.725 by the end of the first semester of the 2021-2022 school year in order to be considered for membership.

 

2.  Service:  Candidates should have completed a minimum of 30 hours of community service from the beginning of the freshman year in high school until the time of application.  Candidates will be required to verify this service.  Also, students should be involved in several school activities or sports to demonstrate their service to the school.  Points are awarded for participation, with each 10 hours of participation earning one point (to a maximum of six  points per activity per year).  Most successful candidates have a total of 30 points or more; this can include both in-school and out-of-school activities.

 

3. Character and Leadership:  Candidates are rated on character and leadership by the faculty and activity sponsors who know the student.  Students can demonstrate leadership through formal positions of leadership and through classroom leadership.  

 

A five-member faculty committee reviews each application and elects the members of the National Honor Society.  The academic requirement is non-negotiable, but the committee has latitude in either direction in making selections based on service, character and leadership.  There is no strict formula that will guarantee admission, but the committee does look to accept all qualified candidates.