National Honor Society

National Honor Society
FoundedMarch 1, 1921 (1921-03-01)
Fifth Avenue High School Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US
TypeHonor
AffiliationNational Association of Secondary School Principals
StatusActive
EmphasisHigh school and Middle school
ScopeInternational
PillarsScholarship, Character, Leadership, and Service
Colors  Blue and   Gold
Chapters17,000+
Members1.4 million active
Headquartersc/o/ National Association of Secondary School Principals
1904 Association Drive

Reston, Virginia 20191-1537
United States
Websitewww.nationalhonorsociety.org

The National 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.

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.

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.