National Honor Society

National Honor Society

Each year outstanding students are accepted into the National Honor Society and inducted in a ceremony. Before becoming eligible for selection, a student must have been in the school for an entire semester. Juniors and Seniors with at least a 3.75 unweighted grade point average are eligible. In order to be selected, a student must be judged to be outstanding in the areas of scholarship, leadership, character, and service by a five-member faculty committee and to be approved by all members of the Academy staff. Students on Social Probation status are not eligible for NHS membership. NHS members earn 50 house points.

NHS Selection Process

Steps in the NHS Process:

  1. The National Honor Society Selection Process and rubric for clarification to rate areas of service, character and leadership will be placed in Academy Faculty Handbooks, and Parent / Student Handbook.

  2. An NHS Advisor will be appointed by the Principal each school year.

  3. The Computer Services Department provides a list of students who have an unweighted GPA of 3.75 students in 11th and 12th grade are eligible for membership.

  4. The Vice-Principal determines if any academically eligible students have been reported for cheating/plagiarism or for serious Code of Conduct violations.

  5. The NHS Advisor generates a list of eligible NHS candidates based on GPA and the Vice Principal's report (4 and 5 above). Students on Social Probation or with more than one cheating offense are not eligible for consideration. All faculty complete the NHS student rating form distributed by the Academy Secretary. This form includes each eligible student’s name, a rating grid, and an explanation of rating areas for service, character and leadership (as printed in the NHS Official Handbook.)

  6. The Academy Secretary gives each eligible student the NHS information form to complete and asks each to write a statement indicating why he/she should be a member of NHS, what it means, and how he/she can contribute to the ACS Athenian Chapter.

  7. The Principal appoints an NHS Committee comprised of 5 faculty members. This committee reviews all applicants’ information and faculty rating forms and evaluates each eligible candidate using the NHS Evaluation Rubric. The Academy Vice Principal's report is considered during deliberations.

  8. Students selected for NHS membership will be recognized in a formal Induction Ceremony to which their parents are invited. There is one induction ceremony held each year.

  9. Induction Ceremony:

    • All current members of NHS are to dress in formal attire or academic gowns.

    • All current members must attend the rehearsal.

    • Certificates and membership cards are presented to new members during the ceremony.

NHS Evaluation Rubric

The purpose of the National Honor Society is, “to create enthusiasm for scholarship, to stimulate a desire to render service, to promote leadership, to encourage citizenship, and to develop character in the students of secondary school.”

Leadership:

Works toward the achievement of group goals.

4 POINTS :: Consistently and actively helps identify group goals and works hard to meet them.

3 POINTS :: Consistently communicates commitment to group goals and carries out assigned roles.

2 POINTS:: Sporadically communicates commitment to group goals and carries out assigned roles.

1 POINT:: Rarely, if ever, communicates commitment to group goals or carries out assigned roles.

Demonstrates effective interpersonal skills.

4 POINTS :: Consistently and actively helps promote effective group interaction and expresses ideas and opinions in ways that are sensitive to the feelings or knowledge base of others.

3 POINTS :: Consistently participates in group interaction without prompting and expresses ideas and opinions in ways that are sensitive to the feelings and knowledge base of others.

2 POINTS:: Sporadically participates in group interaction without prompting and expresses ideas and opinions in ways that are sensitive to the feelings and knowledge base of others.

1 POINT:: Rarely, if ever, participates in group interaction without prompting or expresses ideas and opinions in ways that are sensitive to the feelings and knowledge base of others.

Effectively performs a variety of roles within a group.

4 POINTS :: Demonstrates an ability to perform a wide range of roles within a group.

3 POINTS :: Demonstrates an ability to perform different roles within a group.

2 POINTS :: Demonstrates an ability to perform a restricted range of roles within a group.

1 POINT :: Does not demonstrate an ability to change roles within a group.

Service:

Generates new ways of viewing a situation or improving the community.

4 POINTS :: Consistently explores and works to address as many community service needs as his/her time and resources will allow. A variety of community service activities is demonstrated by the student each year during the student’s high school experience and is reflected on the student’s application.

3 POINTS :: Consistently works to address several community service needs. This is demonstrated by the student’s high school experience and reflected on student’s application.

2 POINTS :: Sporadically participates in community service activities. One community service activity has taken place during the student’s high school experience and is reflected on the student’s application.

1 POINT :: Rarely, if ever, does the student participate in a community service activity and is reflected on the student’s application.

Display of work habits.

4 POINTS :: Consistently arrives on time, demonstrates motivation and high energy for the service and works with focus and positive attitude.

3 POINTS :: Consistently arrives on time, demonstrates motivation and energy for the service, and works with little supervision to keep focus and positive attitude.

2 POINTS :: Sporadically arrives on time, demonstrates low motivation and energy for the service, and does not work without supervision to keep focus.

1 POINT :: Rarely arrives on time or completes the service needed.

Participates in activities.

4 POINTS :: Has been involved in team / club activities every year of high school or has participated in four or more organizations either in or outside of high school in recent years.

3 POINTS :: Has been involved in three or more clubs or service activities either in or outside of school in the last year.

2 POINTS :: Has been involved in two or more clubs or service activities either in or outside of school in the last year.

1 POINT :: Has been involved in some club or service activity over the past year.

Character:

Generates, trusts, and maintains own standards of self evaluation.

4 POINTS :: Consistently exhibits all traits listed:

  • honesty

  • respect for self and others

  • kindness

  • empathy

  • responsibility for actions

3 POINTS :: Consistently exhibits three of the traits listed:

  • honesty

  • respect for self and others

  • kindness

  • empathy

  • responsibility for actions

2 POINTS :: Sporadically exhibits two of the traits listed:

  • honesty

  • respect for self and others

  • kindness

  • empathy

  • responsibility for actions

1 POINT :: Rarely, if ever, exhibits any of the traits listed:

  • honesty

  • respect for self and others

  • kindness

  • empathy

  • responsibility for action

Pushing the limits of own knowledge and ability.

4 POINTS :: Consistently challenges himself/herself each year by selecting at least two honors level each year of high school.

3 POINTS :: Consistently challenges himself with one honors course a year.

2 POINTS :: Sporadically challenges himself/herself by taking on honors course, but completes challenging assignments / research on time with quality work.

1 POINT :: Rarely challenges himself/herself with assignments / research. Has not taken any honors level course.

Is sensitive to the feelings, level of knowledge, and ethnic diversity of others.

4 POINTS:: Consistently demonstrates insight concerning the feelings, levels of knowledge, and ethnic diversity of others and exhibits this insight while communicating. Always encourages respect for individual differences and sensitivities.

3 POINTS :: Consistently shows the ability to communicate with persons of ethnic diversity and encourages respect for feelings, knowledge and abilities of others.

2 POINTS :: Sporadically shows the ability to communicate with persons of ethnic diversity, sensitivity and encouragement for respect for others.

1 POINT :: Rarely, if ever, shows the ability to communicate with persons of ethnic diversity, sensitivity or encouragement for respect for others.


Points Calculation:

Total Score =__________ Divide ÷ 9 = = Final Score

Rubric for Membership Qualifications

4 POINTS :: Consistently demonstrates ability, talent and knowledge to be an active member of the National Honor Society.

3 POINTS :: Consistently demonstrates knowledge and occasional activities / talents to be an active member of the National Honor Society.

2 POINTS :: Sporadically demonstrates the ability, talent and knowledge to be a member of the National Honor Society.

1 POINT :: Rarely, if ever, demonstrates the ability, talent or knowledge to be a member of the National Honor Society.