TheNational Honor Society (NHS) is one of the oldest, largest, and most widely recognized cocurricular student organizations in American high schools, with 1.4 million members.[1][2] The purpose of the NHS is to create enthusiasm for scholarship, to recognize outstanding students, to stimulate a desire to render service, to promote leadership, and to develop character in the students of secondary schools.[3] Membership in local NHS chapters is an honor bestowed upon a student by a Faculty Council and is based on the four pillars of NHS: scholarship, character, leadership, and service. Once selected, members have the responsibility to continue to demonstrate these qualities.[3]
The National Honor Society (NHS) was established on March 1, 1921, by Dr.Edward Rynearson, a member of theNational Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), which is the parent organization of the NHS.[1][4] Rynearson, then the principal ofFifth Avenue High School inPittsburgh, Pennsylvania, envisioned an organization that would balance academics and athletics while emphasizing the role of high schools as a foundation for democracy. Prior to the establishment of the NHS, numerous local and regional honor societies existed, but the NHS was the first organization of its kind with a national scope.[5]
Since its inception, the NHS has expanded significantly, with over 17,000 active chapters across the United States and beyond.[5]
In 1929, the NHS furthered its reach by introducing theNational Junior Honor Society (NJHS) for middle school students. This expansion was complemented in 2008 with the creation of theNational Elementary Honor Society, a collaboration between the NASSP and the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), aimed at elementary school students.[5]
The NHS operates through a decentralized model, granting autonomy to local chapters for innovation and adaptation within the framework of the NHS National Constitution. This approach allows chapters to address specific local needs while adhering to the overarching principles of the organization.[5]
The operational management of the NHS is overseen by the NASSP, with strategic guidance provided by the NASSP Board of Directors. This structure ensures the continuity of Rynearson's vision and the organization's impact on students' lives.[5]
National Honor Society chapters operate in all fifty states, territories, and many schools around the world, engaging and serving more than 1.4 million students.
Each year, the average NHS chapter contributes:[2]
1,000 hours of school/community service
$26,000 in charitable donations
1,000 pounds of food to local, state, and national causes
Since 1946, the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) has awarded more than $23 million in scholarships to outstanding NHS seniors. Each year, NASSP awards $2 million in scholarships to 600 students, including one National Winner ($25,000), four NHS Pillar Winners ($10,625) 20 national finalists ($5,625 each), and 575 national semifinalists ($3,200 each).[7] Scholarship recipients are selected based on their demonstration of the four pillars of NHS: Scholarship, Service, Leadership, and Character.[8]
