What are the academic eligibility requirements?

• A minimum unweighted grade point average of 3.0 (grades 9 -11).
• No more than one 'D' grade on the student transcript (grades 9 -11).
• No 'F' grade on the student transcript, except one 'F' in grade 9 (grades 9 -11).
• A minimum of one semester of attendance (or 3.5 credits) at Jackson-Reed High School.
• Community Service hours submitted to your counselor and reflected on your transcript.

Application Checklist

You will need to complete the following tasks for your NHS application

• Request three teacher recommendations from JRHS teachers
• Community Service Hours submitted and reflected on your transcript.
• A letter of support from your Community Service Sponsor that you will upload to the application.
• A Statement of Purpose – you can preview the prompt in our Application Document and how it will be scored in our published rubric.
• A resume – you can use this guide to help you write your resume

What is the National Honor Society?

The National Honor Society (NHS) was founded in 1921 "To create enthusiasm for scholarship, to stimulate a desire to render service, to promote leadership, and to develop character in the students of secondary schools." It honors the students at Jackson-Reed High School who epitomize its four pillars: Character, Scholarship, Leadership, and Service.

What are the benefits of membership?

Admission to the Jackson-Reed chapter is membership in a nationally recognized Honor Society that supports your school in celebrating scholars for their outstanding achievements in scholarship, leadership, service, and character. Chapter activities provide the opportunity to nurture and grow these ideals within a scholar's self, school, and community. What better way to serve Jackson-Reed scholars than to help them improve their performance in a course in which you excel? The NHS Scholarship and other national scholarship programs also recognize member leadership and academic achievement.  The Jackson-Reed NHS regalia are part of the attire worn to graduation.

How are members of the Jackson-Reed chapter selected?

The NHS Faculty Council of the Jackson-Reed chapter reviews the applications of all rising Seniors and Juniors who meet the deadline and academic eligibility requirements. A rubric developed by the Faculty Council is used to evaluate how well the four NHS pillars are modeled in each application. An average review score of at least 16 of 20 points (plus one bonus point for service of 100 hours or more) and an approving Faculty Council vote are needed for membership.

What criteria are used to judge the "four pillars"?

• Character - Three teacher recommendations and their student character attribute ratings are reviewed. Questions about character raised by faculty are also considered.
• Scholarship - The applicant's weighted grade point average is the primary factor used to evaluate scholarship. The student transcript is also reviewed for rigor or challenge of course work.
• Leadership - Applicants are required to submit a brief essay detailing an experience with leadership and a planned leadership contribution as a possible member of NHS. A resume that lists work history and extracurricular activities is also required.
• Service - Applicants write and submit a brief essay about one or two meaningful community service experiences that were completed before the start of their senior year.  A record of each service from the sponsoring organization on their letterhead stationery must be submitted as an attachment in the application.

What does the Jackson-Reed chapter expect of its members?

Members have the responsibility to continue to demonstrate the qualities of character, leadership, scholarship, and service that led to their selection. Attendance to meetings with chapter sponsors and participation in all chapter sponsored activities are expected. A minimum of 25 hours of academic tutoring is a required service to the Jackson-Reed school community. Member dues of $30 must be paid to the school bank upon notification of acceptance. Students who have been accepted into the National Honor Society are encouraged to create an account  to verify their participation in the society.

What help is available?

• This PDF document of the online application  is where students are encouraged to review the questions that they will need to answer for the Leadership and Community Service sections of the application.
• A resume is also needed for the application, here's a helpful link to help you write a strong resume.
• Please review the Jackson-Reed NHS Rubric SY2024-2025 document to understand the scoring process. Students are welcome to reach out to any of the NHS Sponsors with questions about the application process.
• Co-sponsors Ms. Munoz and Mr. David Heckler can help with any questions you may have about the application process.

What is the timeline for announcements?

• Announcements will be made on October 11th, 2024 for Senior applicants, and November 1st, 2024 for Junior Applicants.

Sponsors

• Ms. Munoz (Room 224) and Mr. Heckler (Room 215) can connect you to current members who can help you.
• If you need assistance with your resume, please see Ms. Elizabeth Levenson, College and Career Center Coordinator, in Room 108A or email her at elizabeth.levenson@k12.dc.gov.
• If you have any questions about the application process, timeline, or any other concerns, contact the NHS Faculty Chair Ms. Daniela Munoz