Who We Are

National Honor Society (NHS) membership has been the true mark of student achievement for over 100 years, but it goes far beyond a report card. By empowering, championing, and recognizing well-rounded students, NHS provides schools with a values-based framework to elevate a culture of scholarship, service, leadership, and character.

NHS chapters operate in all 50 states and many schools around the world, engaging and serving more than one million students. Each year, the average NHS chapter contributes:

• 1,000 hours of school/community service

• $26,000 in charitable donations

• 1,000 pounds of food to local, state, and national causes

• 100 pints of blood

Reflecting school leaders’ profound commitment to student leadership development, the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) founded NHS in 1921 based on the four pillars of scholarship, service, leadership, and character. In addition to NHS, NASSP founded and manages National Junior Honor Society (est. in 1928), National Student Council (est. in 1931), and National Elementary Honor Society (est. in 2008).

Why NHS?

Listening to kids makes us stronger.

Whether your school’s student leadership is flourishing, emerging, or somewhere in-between, NHS is for you.

The NHS program empowers and equips your students with the knowledge and skills to be transformative leaders in your school, community, and beyond. In addition, it provides a necessary bridge between students and school leaders—helping you to engage and hear what students think, feel, and need.

With an active NHS chapter membership, your school and students have access to:

• LEAD Conferences
  Designed to help good student leaders become exceptional, LEAD Conferences provide NSC, NHS, and NJHS members national-level leadership training. Students will return with new ideas, skills, and energy to affect positive change in their school and community.
  
  

• NHS Scholarship
  Each year, NASSP awards more than $2 million to NHS senior members who have demonstrated a commitment to the four pillars of NHS. The top 25 scholarship recipients and their advisers receive an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C.
  
  

• College and Career Readiness Series
  Live webinars on the college admission planning process give student members and their parents access to valuable advice directly from admissions experts.

We’ve Got Your Back

Creating opportunities for your students and investing in their leadership development requires commitment, time, and resources, but you aren’t alone.

NASSP has a suite of tools, supports, and resources for advisers and schools to successfully run an NHS chapter from start to finish:

• Adviser Resource Centers
  Access step-by-step guidelines, sample bylaws, member handbooks, program Constitutions, and more. This online portal is designed to guide advisers through every step of running a strong NHS chapter.
  
  

• Adviser Online Community
  Connect with fellow NHS advisers around the country who can answer tough questions, give sound advice, and share fresh perspectives.
  
  

• National Student Project Database
  Search through more than 11,000 service project ideas submitted by honor society chapters and student councils from across the country.
  
  

• On-Demand Customer Care
  Our qualified team of experts is readily available to help you effectively manage your NHS chapter. There’s no question that’s too big or too small!
  
  

• Adviser Webinar Series
  Presented live and on demand throughout the school year, each webinar offers tips, resources, and advice covering four main topics: back to school, adviser basics, student profiles, and awards.
  
  

• Adviser-Focused Workshops
  Attend special sessions tailored for advisers at our annual LEAD conference.