Selection Criteria

• Selection Criteria
  In order to be selected for membership, students must demonstrate high standards of scholarship, leadership, service, and character.

  1. Juniors and seniors as defined by accumulated credits may be considered for membership.

  2. Scholarship

     1. Students must achieve a minimum GPA, 3.5/4.0, in all courses included in the calculation of ranking in order to be considered for membership.

  3. Leadership: 

     1. Students will demonstrate leadership in order to be considered for membership

     2. The student who exercises leadership:

        1. Demonstrates initiative in promoting school activities

        2. Exercises influence on peers in upholding school ideals

        3. Contributes ideas that promote the civic life of the school

        4. Exemplifies positive attitude and inspires positive behavior in others

        5. Successfully holds school offices or positions of responsibility

        6. Demonstrates reliability and dependability. 

        7. Is a classroom leader, at work, and in other school or community activities

        8. Is scholarly

        9. Is resourceful

        10. Is thoroughly dependable in any responsibility accepted

  4. Service: 

     1. Students will demonstrate service in order to be considered for membership

     2. The student who serves:

        1. Volunteers and provides dependable, organized assistance

        2. Works well with others and takes on difficult or inconspicuous responsibilities

        3. Willingly renders service without hesitation or prompting

        4. Is willing to represent the class or school in inter-class and inter-scholastic competition

        5. Does committee and staff work without complaint

        6. Participates in some activity outside of school, e.g. scouting, religious organizations,

        7. Volunteers services to youth, the elderly, ill, or disadvantaged, etc.

        8. Shows courtesy by assisting visitors, teachers, and peers

  5. Character:

     1. Students will demonstrate character in order to be considered for membership

     2. The student of character consistently and consciously:

        1. Adheres to and complies with school rules and regulations, i.e. academic honesty, attendance, conduct, electronics policy, tardiness, truancy, etc.

        2. Uses social media responsibly and appropriately, not as a forum for teacher/school bashing or flaunting illegal behavior (underage drinking, illicit drug use, etc.)

        3. Takes constructive criticism

        4. Exemplifies desirable qualities of personality (respectful, polite, courteous)

        5. Upholds principles of morality and ethics

        6. Demonstrates high standards of honesty, reliability, and civility

        7. Shows courtesy and concern for others

        8. Follows instructions and rules in all situations

        9. Is polite and respectful

• Selection Procedure

  1. Academically eligible students will be identified through the guidance office and a list of names including their cumulative GPA will be given to the Honor Society Advisor

  2. The Principal will approve the appointed faculty council of at least five members (only 5 vote)

     1. The advisor

        1. Will serve as facilitator of the committee

        2. Will not be a voting member

        3. Will advocate for students through the Student Informational Resume

  3. The advisor will notify student candidates by a mailed letter confirming they met the academic requirements and an email to their school email account that further consideration for selection will require completion of the Informational Resume, located on the NHS Selection Google Classroom.

     1. Applicants will provide the following information on the Informational Resume

        1. Leadership positions:  one who leads by example, inside or outside the classroom, class officer, committee chairperson, team caption, section leader, newspaper editor, work area manager, community leader, etc.

        2. Service activities:  in school or school related: clubs organizations in school that involve services such as Interact or REAL, band, chorus, the arts, etc.; out of school:  clubs or non-profit organizations such as scouting, religious organizations, community theatre, music, and the arts, etc.; competition/sports: including school/travel teams, debate, quiz bowl, chess, etc.

        3. Essay:  Students will answer the following question as thoughtfully as they can: What characteristic(s) about your personality would make you an excellent addition to the National Honor Society? (Question is updated yearly)

        4. Signature Sheet:  including signature of applicant, parent/guardian.

        5. The Recommendation Form: must be completed by a coach, club sponsor, teacher; youth group leader, Scout leader, etc. regarding your character and/or leadership qualities. 

**Please note that the given form is the only acceptable type of recommendation you may have completed on your behalf.

• 4. Character Information:

     1. Faculty and Staff

        1. All faculty and staff will be provided with a list of candidates and character criteria on which to assess applicants and will be solicited for comments

        2. Individual faculty members can provide additional relevant comments

     2. The candidate’s attendance and discipline records will be made available to the selection council. 

        1. The faculty council will determine the seriousness of the attendance issues and/or disciplinary infraction and may deny membership solely based on those issues, even if the student has the total points needed for admittance

        2. Students with chronic, consistent, unexcused lateness or absences may be denied membership

        3. Disciplinary infractions include, but are not limited to:

           1. Cheating

           2. Plagiarism

           3. Suspension, including in-school, out of school, structured studies

           4. Arrest and/or conviction of a crime

  5. Evaluation:

     1. The faculty council will meet to evaluate each candidate.  All selected students will have demonstrated characteristics in EACH of the areas of leadership, service, and character.  Decisions are derived in a fair manner and based on sound professional judgment.

     2. An applicant will not be selected if

        1. Any section on the application is left blank

     3. An applicant may not be selected if

        1. There is a disciplinary infraction on the student’s record.  The faculty council will determine the seriousness of the infraction and may deny membership solely on this infraction even if the student meets all other requirements. 

        2. Minor incidents (such as tardiness, detention, policy violations, etc.) may not necessarily be a disqualification unless they are repeated and indicate a specific pattern of negative behavior

     4. All faculty council decisions are final unless a technical or procedural mistake has been made, including but not limited to: inadvertent omission of a student’s name from the list of those qualified for induction, the erroneous averaging of grades, or the chapter’s failure to follow prescribed procedures