National Honor Societies
Notre Dame Academy sponsors chapters of six National Honor Societies. Students who qualify for membership are inducted in a ceremony each fall.
The National Honor Society is a national organization that recognizes excellence among high school students. Membership is by invitation only. Students selected for membership are expected to demonstrate scholarship, service, leadership, and character. Scholarship is demonstrated by a cumulative grade point average of 3.7 by the end of the third quarter of junior year. A student must have completed at least 10 hours of community service, either in or out of school by the end of third quarter of junior year. Given the mission as a Catholic school the service requirement is the most important. Leadership is demonstrated by a student’s developing pattern of leadership positions both in and out of school. A member upholding principles of morality and ethics demonstrates the fourth criteria, character.
The Language Honor Society is an academic honor society with a service requirement. Eligibility is based on grades at the completion of level three of the language, Chinese, French, or Spanish. The LHS also offers tutoring to NDA students.
The International Thespian Society (ITS) is the Educational Theatre Association’s student honorary organization. ITS recognizes the achievements of high school and middle school theatre students. The society has over 4,600 professional members and close to 100,000 active Thespians in more than 3,900 affiliated high schools and middle schools.
The Tri-M Music Honor Society is the international music honor society for high school students. It is a program of the National Association for Music Education, one of the world’s largest arts education organizations.
The National Art Honor Society (NAHS) is designed specifically for high school students in grades 9-12. In 1978, the National Art Education Association began the National Art Honor Society program to inspire and recognize students who have shown an outstanding ability and interest in art.
The Computer Science Honor Society is a national honor society sponsored by the Computer Science Teachers of America. The society encourages enthusiasm for computer science, advances equity by recognizing that all students have the potential to excel in computing, honors academic excellence, and promotes service. Eligibility is based on grades and the successful completion of Honors Introduction to Computer Science or AP Computer Science.