Students are selected for membership through chapters established at schools that have active affiliation with the NJHS national office. To learn if your school has an active NJHS chapter, use our Chapter Finder to see if your school has an active NJHS chapter.
If your school has a chapter, check your student handbook, school website to review information about your chapter’s selection process. Each chapter is required to publish a description of their selection procedure in an official school publication. Acceptable publishing locations include, but aren’t limited to, the school handbook or school website.
If you are unable to locate this information, check with your school principal to identify the name of the chapter’s NJHS adviser. The NJHS chapter adviser is the faculty member assigned by the school principal to manage the NJHS chapter.
Members are selected by a 5-member faculty council. Along with the NJHS adviser, the council is appointed by the school principal, and a majority vote of the faculty council is needed for selection. The selection process concludes with induction into the school’s National Junior Honor Society chapter.
If your school does not have a chapter, encourage your principal to learn how to start a chapter. (Please note, NJHS chapters can only be chartered by the school administration.)
Eligibility
All students interested in membership must be enrolled at a school with an active NJHS chapter and must have completed the equivalent of one semester of enrollment.
Chapters may consider students in grades 6–9 for membership. The chapter’s bylaws and published selection procedure description should outline which of these eligible grade levels will be considered for membership in the chapter and when.
(Sixth graders must be in their second semester of sixth grade for consideration. Ninth grade students are only eligible membership in NJHS if they attend a middle level school that has an active NJHS chapter. Ninth grade students in a traditional 9-12 high school are not eligible for NJHS membership.)
Pillars of Membership
- Scholarship
Students must first meet this criterion to become candidates for membership. NJHS national policy requires that each chapter set a cumulative GPA as their Scholarship criteria.
(The minimum Scholarship requirement a chapter may set is a cumulative GPA of 85, B, 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or equivalent cumulative standard of excellence. Each school chapter can set a cumulative GPA requirement above this minimum. The national office cannot require a chapter to lower a properly implemented higher cumulative GPA.) - Service
This involves voluntary contributions made by a student and done without compensation. Chapters can require evidence of service to either the school, the community or both. Each chapter sets its own requirements for this criterion. - 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. Chapters can require evidence of leadership from within school or the community or both. Each chapter sets its own requirements for this criterion. - Character
The student of good character is cooperative; demonstrates high standards of honesty and reliability; shows courtesy, concern, and respect for others. A chapter’s faculty council may review or consider disciplinary records when evaluating this criterion. - Citizenship
In general, the student who demonstrates citizenship understands the importance of civic engagement; has a high regard for freedom and justice; and respects democracy. Each chapter sets its own requirements for this criterion.
Understanding the Obligations of Membership
Students who accept membership and are inducted into the chapter should be aware of the time and commitment involved with their membership. The chapter adviser should provide new members with a written copy of the chapter’s membership obligations. These obligations may include chapter meetings, chapter service projects and individual service requirements. Some chapters also charge dues to help cover chapter expenses. (Dues cannot exceed $20 per year.) Members should also receive a copy of the chapter bylaws.