The National Honor Society, founded in 1921 by the National Association of Secondary School Principals as an organization that recognizes and encourages academic achievement while also developing other characteristics essential to citizens living in a democracy. N.H.S promotes appropriate recognition for high school students in the areas of character, service, leadership and scholarship. Thousands of schools across the nation are chartered by the N.H.S.

Membership in the National Honor Society is both an honor and a responsibility. Active members are expected to maintain the standards of the society by which they were selected. Selection to the N.H.S. is a privilege, not a right. Membership is granted only to those students selected by the N.H.S. Faculty Committee. The N.H.S. is more than just an honor roll and membership is not automatically conveyed simply because a student has achieved a specified level of academic performance.

Membership in the Passaic Valley High School Chapter of the National Honor Society is open to juniors and seniors who have attended PVHS a minimum of one semester, and who have attained a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.50 at the end of sophomore or junior year. Student Activity Information Forms are distributed to eligible students in November. The N.H.S Faculty Committee evaluates all completed forms. In addition to the stated grade point average, students will need to demonstrate service and leadership activities (a minimum of 15 hours per year), 5 of these hours each year must be completed at Passaic Valley. Generally speaking, service activities are those which are done for or on behalf of others, (not including family members) for which no compensation (money or otherwise) has been received. Fundraising for associations, sports, and clubs is NOT considered as service. A Personal Statement and two Faculty Recommendations are also part of the process. Students chosen for membership are inducted into the N.H.S. during the ceremony in March. Due to the pandemic, we are being flexible with hours for the 19-20 and 20-21 school year.

All members of the Passaic Valley High School Chapter of the National Honor Society are to maintain the standards by which they were selected, including a cumulative grade point average of 3.50, and must demonstrate a service activity for each year of active membership.