Student Membership

National Honor Society (NHS) and National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) are more than just an honor roll. Each Honor Society chapter establishes rules for membership that are based upon a student's outstanding performance in the areas of: Scholarship, Service, Leadership, and Character (plus citizenship for NJHS). These criteria for selection form the foundation upon which the organization and its activities are built.

Scholarship
Students who have a cumulative grade point average of 85 percent, B, 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) or equivalent standard of excellence, or a higher cumulative average set by the local school's Faculty Council, meet the scholarship requirement for membership. These students are then eligible for consideration on the basis of service, leadership, and character (and citizenship for NJHS). [top]

Service
This quality is defined through the voluntary contributions made by a student to the school or community, done without compensation and with a positive, courteous, and enthusiastic spirit. [top]

Leadership
Student leaders are those who are resourceful, good problem solvers, promoters of school activities, idea-contributors, dependable, and persons who exemplify positive attitudes about life. Leadership experiences can be drawn from school or community activities while working with or for others. [top]

Character
The student of good character upholds principles of morality and ethics, is cooperative, demonstrates high standards of honesty and reliability, shows courtesy, concern, and respect for others, and generally maintains a good and clean lifestyle. [top]

Citizenship
The student who demonstrates citizenship understands the importance of civic involvement, has a high regard for freedom, justice, and democracy, and demonstrates mature participation and responsibility through involvement with such activities as scouting, community organizations, and school clubs. [top]

Once a school has established a chapter, all membership selection for individual students is handled through the local school chapter.  Specific standards for these criteria may vary from one school to the next. Such variations are acceptable as long as they do not fall below the national standards set by the National Council of the NHS and NJHS. All chapters are required to publish the procedures used in their local selection processes. The Honor Society adviser also maintains copies of the local procedures and has them available upon request.

Eligibility

Students in grades 10 through 12 in a school with both an official charter of the National Honor Society and an active affiliation with the national office are eligible for consideration for membership in NHS.

For NJHS, students in the second semester of the sixth grade, or in grades 7 through 9 in a school with both an official charter of the National Junior Honor Society and an up-to-date affiliation with the NJHS national office are eligible for consideration for membership in NJHS. Students must have completed the equivalent of one semester of enrollment. Please refer to the NHS and NJHS Constitutions for more information regarding the national policies of NHS and NJHS.

Students interested in becoming a member of the Honor Society should check with the chapter's faculty adviser at school. If no chapter exists on campus, more information is available on this site to guide school administrators or staff through the process of establishing a chapter

All selection of new Honor Society members is undertaken at the local chapter (school) level. In schools that have a chapter, interested students can find out from the chapter adviser when they become eligible for membership (what grade level), and what the criteria for selection are. These criteria should exist in a published document that outlines the school's selection process. The selection process recommended by the national office includes the completion of an information sheet submitted to the adviser by all students who are identified by their academic performance as being eligible, or "candidates" for membership. Once a candidate is selected by the local selection committee, known as the Faculty Council, a student is awarded membership in the local chapter at a special induction ceremony. Members maintain active participation in NJHS and NHS while enrolled at a school with an active chapter.

Note: The national office does not select members, nor hear appeals for non-selection. All such activity falls under the direction of the local chapter. If one or more of the national policies has been violated, a complaint may be filed. Complaint information is provided in the Parent Zone.