National Honor Society

The purpose of the National Honor Society is “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.” (NHS Constitution) The purpose of the APA Chapter is “to honor the academic achievement of students at Austin Peace Academy and to utilize their resources to serve the school and surrounding community.”

Membership is an honor bestowed upon students who have demonstrated outstanding scholarship, character, leadership, and service. A student is eligible for membership if he or she:

is a sophomore, junior or senior; has maintained a minimum grade-point average of 3.5 at the completion of three semesters; has held a position of leadership; and has completed ten hours of community service in order to be eligible for selection.
Students interested in becoming NHS members shall be required to submit an application stating their intent and eligibility. The NHS Faculty Council, appointed by the Head of Academic, selects members based on the above criteria. Once selected, members have the responsibility to continue to demonstrate the qualities of scholarship, character, leadership, and service.

Honor Council

In the case of major transgressions, a student may be required to attend a hearing with the Honor Council, whose members are charged with providing an opportunity for the student to repair their commitment to the community by assigning uniquely-tailored consequences. Students have a choice of abiding by the decisions of the Honor Council or withdrawing from the school. The purpose of any imposed consequences are threefold:

The reparations should remind the student of what is truly important to him or her.
The reparations should expose how one’s mistake or break in integrity inhibits the realization of their goals.
The reparations should provide an avenue by which the student may make whole their commitment to the school.
The Honor Council is comprised of 4 individuals: 3 students, and 1 teacher . Honor Council hearings are led by the Head of Academics. Returning student council members are empowered to continue serving on the Honor Council. For the first quarter, the School Director will appoint additional student council members as needed.