National Honor Society Criteria

    In order to be considered for membership, a student must be a junior or senior, currently enrolled and have attended Spearfish High School for a minimum of one complete semester.  The student must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.55.  These students are then eligible for consideration on the basis of service, leadership, and character.
    While the academic criterion is important and should be considered first, once it has been determined that a student has met the scholarship criterion, that issue is put aside and the Faculty Council's attention is directed to the remaining criteria.  Membership is never considered on the basis of grades alone.
    The leadership criterion is considered highly important for membership selection.  Leadership may be considered in terms of number of offices a student has held in school or community organizations, although leadership also exists outside elected positions.  Leadership roles in both the school and community may be considered, provided they can be verified.  Leadership is not just holding an office but also following through on leadership responsibilities.
    The criterion of service is defined in terms of value of contributions.  What contribution has the candidate made to school, classmates and community?  What is the students attitude toward service?
    Character is probably the most difficult criterion to define.  Students are considered for the positive as well as the negative aspects of character.  Students who have been arrested and found guilty of civil offenses or who have a chronic record of breaking school rules are poor candidates.
    Membership in the National Honor Society is both an honor and a responsibility.  It is not a right.  Students selected for membership are expected to continue to demonstrate the qualities of scholarship, service, leadership and character by which they were selected.
    In order to become a member a student who meets the required grade point average must apply. Selection is done by a five member Faculty Council, appointed by the principal. Candidates receiving a majority vote will be inducted. 
    It is possible to be dismissed from membership by the Faculty Council.  Members are liable for dismissal if they do not maintain the standards of scholarship, leadership, service, and character that were used as a basis for their selection period.  Members are allowed limited warnings, but in the case of a flagrant violation of school rules or civil laws, a warning is not necessarily required for dismissal. Furthermore, a student who is dismissed or who resigns may never again become an Honor Society member.  A National Honor Society member being considered for dismissal is entitled to a hearing by the Faculty Council.
    In general, the National Honor Society is a way for active and well rounded students to be recognized.