National Honors Society

About the Honor Society

The National Honor Society (NHS) is the nation’s premier organization established to recognize outstanding high school students. More than just an honor roll, NHS serves to recognize those students who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of scholarship, service, leadership and character. These characteristics have been associated with membership in the organization since its beginning in 1921. 

Today, NHS chapters are found in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, many U.S. Territories, and Canada. Chapter membership not only recognizes students for their accomplishments but challenges them to develop further through active involvement in school activities and community service. 

Membership Requirements 

As stated in the membership bylaws, the North High School Chapter of the National Honors Society is open to any junior in his or her second semester or any senior transfer student who:  

1. Has a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale; 

2. Has no past code of conduct violations: alcohol violations, drug violations, frequenting a disorderly house, or committing a crime according to Iowa law; and 

3. Upon meeting the grade level, enrollment, and GPA standards, shall then be considered based on service, leadership, and character. 

A senior transfer must hold a membership at his or her previous school. Students may be admitted to the North High School Chapter with an official letter from the National Honor Society Adviser of his or her previous school.  This letter must state the criteria for which the student was selected, current service work in progress, and cumulative G.P.A. The information provided must meet the basic requirements for membership and eligibility. 

North High Chapter Members – 2020-2021 

Membership Bylaws  

ARTICLE IV: MEMBERSHIP 

Section 1:  Membership in this chapter is an honor bestowed upon deserving students by the faculty and shall be based on the criteria of scholarship, service, leadership, and character.  

Section 2:  Membership in this chapter shall be known as active, honorary, and alumni.  Active members become alumni members at graduation. Alumni and honorary members have no voice or vote in chapter affairs. 

Section 3:  Eligibility: 

1. Candidates eligible for selection to this chapter must be members of the junior class in his or her second semester. 

2. Senior transfer students who hold membership in his or her previous school may be admitted to the North High School Chapter with an official letter from the National Honor Society Adviser of his or her previous school.  This letter must state the criteria for which the student was selected, current service work in progress, and cumulative G.P.A.  The information provided must meet the basic requirements for membership and eligibility. 

3. Candidates eligible for election to the chapter shall have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale. 

4. Candidates eligible for election must have no past code of conduct violations: alcohol violations, drug violations, frequenting a disorderly house, or committing a crime according to Iowa law.  This will be reviewed prior to tapping and induction of members. 

5. Upon meeting the grade level, enrollment, and GPA standards, candidates shall then be considered based on their service, leadership, and character. 

ARTICLE V:  SELECTION OF MEMBERS  

Section 1:  The selection of members to this chapter shall be made by name-blind assessment of the essay and personal volunteer and school involvement inventory.  The faculty council shall score these materials.  Each item will be assessed by three to five different council members and an average will be generated.  The average of the essay, the personal inventory, and the teacher recommendation scoring sheets shall be found.  This number will be divided by the total points possible (15) to find the percent.  A score of 70% or higher shall deem acceptance as long as there are no code of conduct violations.  The faculty council shall be made up of 5-20 members of North High faculty.  Principles are not allowed to be council members per the National Honor Society Constitution.  Faculty council members may serve concurrent year.  The chapter adviser shall be the final nonvoting, ex officio member of the faculty council. 

Section 2:  The selection of active members shall be held once a year during the second semester of the school year.  

Section 3:  Prior to the final selection, the following shall occur: 

1. Students’ academic records shall be reviewed to determine scholastic eligibility. 

2. All students who are eligible scholastically (i.e., candidates) shall be notified via letter and email and encouraged to submit all application materials. 

3. The faculty council shall review the candidate information forms:  character essay and personal inventory. 

4. The adviser shall read all letters of recommendation for quality and authenticity. 

5. The adviser shall collect and average 5 teacher surveys for each candidate. 

6. The adviser shall collect and organize all application materials and generate a final score for each individual. 

7. The adviser will review disciplinary records of each candidate to make sure he or she has no past code of conduct violations:  alcohol violations, drug violations, frequenting a disorderly house, or committing a crime according to Iowa law. 

Section 4: Candidates become members when inducted at a special induction ceremony. 

Section 5.  An active member of the National Honor Society who transfers from this school will be given an official letter indicating the status of his/her membership. 

Section 6:  An active member of the National Honor Society who transfers to this school will be automatically accepted for membership in this chapter. The faculty council shall grant to the transferring member one semester to attain the membership requirements and, thereafter, this member must maintain those requirements for this chapter in order to retain his/her membership.