The Columbus School’s National Honor Society (NHS) chapter has announced a major change for the 2025-2026 school year, lowering its grade point average (GPA)  requirement from 3.75 to 3.66. The decision, finalized last semester before the 2025 seniors left, aims to expand eligibility, allowing more students to apply while continuing to uphold the group’s values of scholarship, leadership, service, and character. 

The change reflects a growing effort at TCS to showcase leadership and service achievements. As competitive pressures increase and GPAs drop across high-achieving students, NHS leaders say the change ensures the society remains open to a broader group of candidates who achieve excellence apart from grades. The decision was supported through surveys, student input, and alignment with national standards, making the process fair while keeping strong academic expectations in place.

NHS President Juliana Arango said the decision followed careful review and student feedback. “The decision was actually made last year through a survey where our voices were heard,” said Arango. “We wanted to give more students the opportunity to apply and bring in different perspectives to NHS.”

This moment was significant because it marked one of the first times student opinions directly shaped a major eligibility policy in a TCS honor society. The inclusion of student feedback reflects a growing emphasis on shared governance and inclusivity within school organizations. Rather than viewing NHS as an exclusive club for top academic performers, the change reframes it as a platform for motivated students who demonstrate leadership and community involvement, even if their GPAs aren’t at the very top of the scale.

Arango explained that the chapter had noticed a troubling trend of fewer students meeting the old GPA cutoff each year. “We saw a trend that each year fewer people were able to apply,” she said. “By making this change, more students could send their applications, which really opened the possibility for new applicants.”

NHS Advisor Emily Butterworth seconded this observation, emphasizing how exclusivity had become an unintended barrier. 

“Oh my gosh, this has become quite exclusive in the sense that very few kids qualify to be on it,” said Butterworth. “All of those factors went into moving it to a 3.66 for this year.” Butterworth added that this year’s applicant pool grew significantly because of the change. “This year we had 54 qualified applicants… 21 had a GPA between 3.66 and 3.75,” she said. “That means 21 kids, which is about 40%, were able to apply who wouldn’t have been able to apply in previous years.”

While academic standards remain high, both managing members stressed that NHS selection is based on more than GPA.

 “Even though we are lowering the GPA, the people applying are still great students with leadership and volunteer experience,” said Arango. “More people equals more impact, and I think this will create a positive perception of NHS.”

Butterworth agreed, pointing to the organization’s foundational principles. 

“Remember that the scholar part is only one of the four pillars,” said Butterworth. “There’s still the character and service and leadership… from my perspective, it doesn’t change what the NHS is. And I think it was the right decision.”

This approach aligns with the NHS National Constitution, which sets a minimum GPA standard of 3.0, far lower than TCS’s current requirement. It also states that candidates must be evaluated across service, leadership, and character, reinforcing the balanced philosophy that guided TCS’s change. According to the TCS NHS Bylaws, all students must maintain a 3.66 cumulative GPA after selection to remain in good standing, ensuring academic consistency across all members. This maintains the chapter’s integrity while creating more equitable access to consideration.

Some wonder whether lowering the GPA could lessen the chapter’s recognition. Butterworth responded that the goal is fairness, not leniency. “If we’re trying to say it’s a 3.75, it gives them very little time in which they could make up for, you know, like if you start ninth grade with a 3.5… you’re making it almost impossible to ever get into NHS,” said Butterworth. “So I think… it makes it more balanced between the four pillars.”

Her point highlights a broader equity issue in selective programs: early academic challenges can unfairly limit long-term opportunities. By adjusting the requirement, NHS acknowledges that excellence develops over time, through persistence, growth, and contribution, rather than a single numerical cutoff. This perspective mirrors modern educational philosophies that prioritize progress and potential as much as achievement.

For students, the change also carries motivational value. “Lowering the GPA not only motivates students to work harder to improve their grades, but it also encourages them to apply,” said Arango. “For current members, it’s a reminder to maintain strong academics and leadership so we can continue making an impact.”

By widening the pool of applicants, the chapter hopes to amplify its service initiatives and student representation. Butterworth emphasized that the core mission remains the same, cultivating student leaders committed to making a difference both on campus and in the community.

This decision highlights a shift in educational values at TCS, recognizing that academic excellence is only one of the four pillars of NHS. By aligning more closely with the official standards, the chapter emphasizes a balanced approach that gives equal importance to scholarship, leadership, service, and character. The change suggests that inclusivity and impact can coexist with rigor, allowing more students who embody all four pillars to contribute to the organization.

Ultimately, the TCS NHS chapter’s decision symbolizes an evolving definition of excellence, one that values growth, resilience, and community impact alongside high academic standards. The new policy doesn’t diminish prestige; it redefines it, recognizing that real distinction lies in how students lead and serve, not only in the grades they earn. As Arango said, “More people equals more impact,” and this year’s changes may help shape a stronger, more representative community of The Columbus School’s student leaders.