FAQs
Are you affiliated with The Honor Society or Honor Society Foundation (etc.)?
There are multiple organizations out there that will send mailers claiming recognition for your student, and ask that you send them money to be added to their official register. These organizations have no relationship to the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), which is the governing organization for NHS. If you have questions about a letter or email regarding an Honor Society, please let the faculty advisers know.
When am I/is my child eligible for National Honor Society?
The J.L. McCullough Chapter of NHS is invite only. Membership is an honor bestowed upon a student. In the spring of the junior year, students who have a 4.2 G.P.A. or higher receive a notification letter inviting them to complete a "survey" form and an essay. Students who did not have a 4.2 G.P.A. at the end of the first semester their junior year and were not invited to complete the survey and essay in the spring of their junior year, but have a 4.2 cumulative average at the end of May/June the junior year will be invited to complete the survey and essay in the fall.
What are the selection criteria?
Students are selected by a faculty council based on a prospective members completed application and if they meet the four values of NHS: Character, Service, Scholarship, and Leadership.
When does selection actually start?
The selection process usually begins in middle of February and continues until invitations are sent out to students. A definitive timeline is difficult due to there being several different roles responsible in getting students an invite.
Why was I/my child not accepted?
Students may not be accepted into NHS for any number of reasons. Our faculty council has to make a determination based on students application and their description of how they fit the values of Character, Service, and Leadership. Students may be strong in one or two categories, but weak in a third. Our council works hard to find members that exhibit the best of all 3 values. (Scholarship is already determined via GPA) Another reason may be that an application was submitted incomplete, or not at all.
If I am not accepted during the spring selection process, or I miss the deadline to apply, is there another opportunity to join NHS?
Yes. There is a second smaller selection process in the fall semester (for seniors only) which still allows students ample time to complete their commitment to NHS and letter before graduation.
How can I/my child improve their application?
The application process is similar to a resume. Student's should work hard to include the most relevant information that pertains to the core values of NHS, without providing too much information. Remember each of the values are equally important, and time and space should not be devoted to a single trait or event.
What is the process for serving as an officer in NHS?
Officer applications open the same day that student invitations are sent out, and typically remain open until the end of March. Any student that is accepted into the organization by the faculty council, and has completed an application to serve, will be invited to conduct an officer interview with the chapter sponsor(s) and the 4 current officers in NHS. Students will answer questions from the board regarding the position applied for and general leadership questions. In the event of a conflict of interest, interviewing board members will abstain from voting for or against officer candidates, and an impartial member from the faculty council will instead be used in case of a tie.
Who is the faculty council?
In order to keep the selection process unbiased, the faculty council is kept anonymous from all students and staff. All members of the council are selected by the sponsors and appointed with approval of the principal.
How do I file an appeal to a decision?
The process for all appeals is the same. First, inform the sponsor(s) of your intent to file an appeal. Then create a letter providing the reason, potential evidence, and expected solution for the appeal. Appeals will be sent to the faculty council for deliberation. Should appeals be rejected, members may request a formal hearing. Please speak with sponsors regarding further information.
Appeals can be made for a variety of reasons: Failure to meet the application deadline, not being accepted during the selection process, being put on probation, or being dismissed from NHS.