National Honor Society

Criteria for Selection Membership in the Pascack Valley/Hills High School Chapter of the National Honor Society is to be based upon scholarship, service, leadership, and character. Membership is an honor bestowed upon a select group of students by the school faculty through the Faculty Council. More specifically, the criteria for selection are as follows: 

1. NEW CRITERION: Beginning with September 2026 incoming freshmen (Class of 2030), the minimum grade point average for NHS eligibility will be 3.95. Currently, the minimum grade point average for NHS eligibility will be 3.85 for the classes of 2027, 2028 & 2029. Any student with a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.85 or better will be considered for membership. This GPA will be based on final marks for ninth, tenth and mid-year eleventh grades and approved high school level summer school programs. 

2. Only students enrolled at Pascack Valley/Hills High School for a period equivalent to one semester are eligible for membership. 

3. All faculty members (full and part-time staff) will be surveyed for National Honor Society nominations. These nominations are to be based on a judgment of character and leadership and are to be made only by faculty members who know students from the classroom, support or administrative services and/or co-curricular activities. 

4. Incidents of a disciplinary nature will be considered by the Faculty Council if they are documented events of which both the student and the parent were notified at the time they occurred. 

5. Consideration will be given only to those students who actively participate in school and community activities. Successful candidates for membership must have completed 30 hours of volunteer services. All club sponsors will be surveyed for activity ratings of students. Courses for which students earn credit will not be considered as fulfilling the activity requirement. 

6. The National Honor Society Faculty Council will make the final selection in the spring of junior year based on the criteria listed above.

GPA is based on final marks for ninth, tenth, and first semester eleventh grades and approved high school level summer school programs.

Student leadership, whether formal or informal, refers to a student's ability to plan, direct, organize, or otherwise take responsibility for activities that create a positive environment for their class, school or community. NHS candidates must demonstrate positive leadership.

Character is determined by a survey of teachers. Respect, responsibility, trustworthiness, fairness, caring and citizenship are qualities valued by the NHS Faculty Council. Incidents of cheating or plagiarism will result in non-selection to NHS.

Community Service refers to service that a student performs for the benefit of his or her local, national or international community. Candidates must have a minimum of 30 hours of documented community service. School and class related activities, including fundraising do not count as community service. Volunteer work for a company, unpaid internships and family obligations do not count as community service.

Many of our high school clubs & teams offer community service opportunities that benefit the greater community such as Project Paterson, Interact, Camp Raspberry, Robotics, TAC, Volleyball (Dig Pink) etc. Churches, temples and civic organizations offer community service opportunities. Volunteer work with disabled, poor or needy persons qualify as community service.

Community service must be performed during the student's high school years. It is recommended that students keep a log of community service hours and any certificates for documentation.