Eligibility

Requirements

Students in grades 11-12 who meet the requirements for membership outlined by our Chapter Bylaws are eligible to be invited for membership.

Each chapter is required to publish its qualifications for membership, which is based on the four pillars of NHS:

• Scholarship

New Hanover High School has a minimum requirement of a 3.5 GPA.

• Service

This involves voluntary contributions made by a student to the school or community, done without compensation. Students at New Hanover High School are required to have at least 40 hours of community service recorded in the LetServe Application.

• Leadership

Student leaders are those who are resourceful, good problem solvers, and idea contributors. Leadership experiences can be drawn from school or community activities while working with or for others.

• Character

The student of good character is cooperative; demonstrates high standards of honesty and reliability; shows courtesy, concern, and respect for others; and generally maintains a clean disciplinary record.

Invitations and Applications

In mid-late March, all academically eligible juniors will receive an emailed letter (to their nhcs email account) inviting them to apply to New Hanover's NHS if interested. If a junior thinks the he/she/they meet the GPA requirement but does not receive an invitation to apply by the end of March, he/she/they should contact his/her/their counselor immediately as the application process is very timely.

There is no fee to apply to NHS so if you receive an email asking you to pay to apply, this is not from New Hanover!

Applications must be submitted by the due date as late submissions will not be considered.

Selection Process

The names of those students who have submitted an application will be submitted to the entire faculty of NHHS for ratings on qualities of character, leadership, and service.

Faculty Members will rate students on a scale of 1 to 4, with 4 indicating unreserved acceptance, 3 indicating slight reservation, and 2 or 1 indicating serious reservation. Ratings of 2 or 1 must be accompanied by a written comment of explanation. Faculty Members will have received a summary of criteria for each category before rating of the students occurs.

A minimum rating of 3.0 must be earned in each of the categories of character, leadership, and service; a comprehensive average based on all four categories will then be computed for those students meeting the 3.0 minimum criterion. That comprehensive average must be 3.5 or higher before a student's name can be placed before the voting Faculty Council. The comprehensive average is computed with GPA counting 40% and each of the categories counting 20%.

Faculty Council

The National Honor Society Faculty Council, composed of at least 3 teachers, the non-voting advisor, and a non-voting administrator, will meet to review all activity sheets and faculty ratings and comments for those students whose comprehensive averages are 3.5 or higher. A positive majority vote indicates acceptance for induction.

Acceptance Letters

Students who received a positive majority vote by the Faculty Council will receive an acceptance letter mid to late April.

Seniors Who Eligibility During Junior Year

In September of their senior year, academically eligible students who fit under the following categories are given another opportunity to apply (the application process is the same but moves a bit faster): 

1. They did not apply as juniors

2. They were not accepted as juniors

3. They were not eligible as juniors but now have a 3.5 weighted GPA.