Membership

Requirements

Students cannot apply to be in the National Honor Society. Below is a summary of requirements to gain and keep membership in the St. James Chapter of the National Honor Society. Please see the Bylaws page for details.

Students are reminded that membership in NHS is both a privilege AND an obligation!

Eligibility

A student is deemed eligible for membership when they:

Are a member of the Junior (11th grade) or Senior (12th grade) class.
Have completed 4 semesters of high school, at least one of which is at St. James High.
Have cumulative GPA of at least 4.50 on the South Carolina Uniform Grading Scale.
Have no discipline referrals for the previous school year. This includes referrals for tardies.
Be enrolled in at least two honors, Advanced Placement, or PACE-level courses during the academic year they are chosen for membership.

Selection

Once students are identified as academically eligible, they are invited to complete an information form where they can demonstrate their accomplishments in the areas of Service, Leadership, and Character. The Faculty Council, which is made up of five faculty members, not including the Adviser, review the information along with any discipline records, and make the final decision to offer membership.

Students are inducted in a formal ceremony in the fall each year.

Obligation of Members

In order to retain membership in good standing, the member must

Complete their service hours on time
Attend all regularly scheduled meetings
Participate in chapter events and projects
Maintain a 4.50 GPA
Be enrolled in at least two Honors, AP, or PACE classes in an academic year

Discipline and Dismissal

Students who fall below the standards to which they were elected or who fail to complete the obligations of membership will be subject to disciplinary procedures, up to and including dismissal. Examples include:

Violations of the school conduct code
Breaking the law or receiving discipline referrals
Not attending meetings
Not completing service hours
Failure to maintain GPA

A student who falls below the expected standards will receive a warning letter detailing the issue and giving a reasonable time frame to correct the issue.

In the case of a referrals or arrests, students may be immediately considered for dismissal without warning. Please see the Bylaws for more details.

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