Students at McKeesport Area High School have an opportunity to become members of the MAHS Chapter of the National Honor Society.  Membership in the National Honor Society is based upon excellence in four areas:  scholarship, leadership, service, and character.  To be eligible for membership, a student must have a minimum cumulative average of 90.000.  Students can become members in their junior or senior year.  For juniors, the cumulative average is based on grades earned during the freshman and sophomore years, and first semester of the junior year.  For seniors, the cumulative average is based on grades earned during the freshman, sophomore, and junior years, and the first semester of the senior year.  In accordance with the National Honor Society Charter (as established by the National Association of Secondary School Principals - National Council) students MUST demonstrate - IN ADDITION TO THE ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS - the qualities of LEADERSHIP, SERVICE, AND CHARACTER.  Leadership is based on participation in school and community projects.  Service is determined by volunteer activity in both the school and community.  Character is measured in terms of integrity, behavior, ethics, and cooperation with both students and faculty.  Students who meet the academic requirements for membership are invited to submit an application which requests information about the other three National Honor Society criteria.  A faculty selection committee meets to review the applications and offer membership to qualified individuals.  The McKeesport Area High School NHS Chapter is a service organization.  BY ACCEPTING NHS MEMBERSHIP, THE STUDENT AGREES TO PERFORM TEN HOURS OF NHS SPONSORED COMMUNITY SERVICE EACH SEMESTER.  THIS SERVICE REQUIREMENT IS ABOVE AND BEYOND ANY SERVICE LEARNING REQUIREMENTS.