The Discipuli cum Laude chapter of the National Honor Society at Bettendorf High School is a duly chartered and affiliated chapter of this prestigious national organization. Membership is open to those students who meet the required standards in four areas of evaluation: character, scholarship, leadership, and service. Standards for selection are established by the national office of NHS and have been revised to meet our local chapter needs. Students are selected to be members by a 5-member Faculty Council, appointed by the principal, which bestow this honor upon qualified students on behalf of the faculty of our school each May.

Students in the 10th, 11th, or 12th grades are eligible for membership. For the scholarship criterion, a student must have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or better on a 4.0 scale. In addition, in order to be eligible for membership, all students must have taken or be currently enrolled in an honors or AP level class.

During the second semester of the school year, those students who meet this criterion are invited to complete an application that provides the Faculty Council with information regarding the candidate's leadership and service. A history of leadership experiences and participation in school or community service is also required.

In order to evaluate a candidate's character, the Faculty Council uses three forms of input. As part of the application process, all applicants will be required to obtain recommendations from two faculty members at BHS. Secondly, all members of the faculty will be solicited for input regarding their professional reflections on a candidate's service activities, character, and leadership. Lastly, the discipline records of all potential candidates will be reviewed. All of this information, along with the application, are then carefully studied by the Faculty Council to determine membership. A majority vote of the Council is necessary for selection. Candidates are notified regarding selection or non-selection according to a predetermined schedule.

Following notification, a formal induction ceremony is held in May to recognize all the newly selected members. Once inducted, new members are required to maintain the same level of performance (or better) in all four criteria that led to their selection. This obligation includes regular attendance at chapter meetings held monthly during the school year and participation in service committees of the chapter. Additionally, members are required to maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher and perform at least 15 hours of individual community service during each membership year.