The Samohi CSF - Scholarship for Service
The CSF Membership Application* for Fall 2025 is now open! It is due Friday, February 20, 2026.
Click here for eligibility requirements and application completion steps.
*Please note this is the California Scholarship Federation (CSF) application. The National Honors Society (NHS) application is separate and will be released at a later time.
CSF Couse List can be found here.
The California Scholarship Federation (CSF) is a statewide academic honor society that recognizes students for outstanding scholastic achievement. Membership is earned on a semester-by-semester basis using a point system based on grades earned in the most challenging courses.
Requirements for Semester Membership
Students earn membership in CSF if they apply and have earned 10 (ten) CSF points. Points are earned on grades from the previous semester according to the following scale.
A = 3 CSF points*
B = 1 CSF point*
C = 0 CSF points
D or F in any course, even if not counted for CSF, disqualifies the student from membership
B = 1 CSF point*
C = 0 CSF points
D or F in any course, even if not counted for CSF, disqualifies the student from membership
*1 extra point for an A or a B in an AP, IB, or Honors-designated course, not to exceed two such points per semester
- 4 (Four) of the 10 (ten) points must come from List I courses.
- 7 (Seven) of the 10 (ten) points (including the four List I points) must come from List I and II courses. Of course, all seven points may come from List I.
- The last 3 (three) points may come from any list.
- Only 5 (five) courses (or 25 credits) may be used to earn the 10 (ten) points.
Keep in mind that courses such as P.E., teacher assistant, office aide, or repeated courses do not earn any CSF points. See the description of List I, II, III courses in Article IV, Section 6, of the CSF Bylaws on CSF Chapter Resources.
Poor citizenship may disqualify students from membership. It is the adviser and principal’s prerogative to determine disbarment.
Individual chapters may choose to impose a chapter dues payment as part of their membership application process, but no eligible applicant may be refused membership for non-payment of dues.
Life Membership
Seniors may achieve Life Membership (Sealbearer status at graduation) if they have been a member of CSF for four semesters during second semester of sophomore year through second semester of senior year. A senior must qualify for second semester of senior year even if they have four prior semesters of membership because one semester must be based on grades earned in the senior year. A senior needing one additional semester to qualify for Sealbearer may use final grades in the last semester of senior year if they qualify and complete a CSF application in May/June.
FAQs can be found here. If after thoroughly reading both documents, there are follow-up questions, email them to samohiacademichonorsocieties@gmail.com (from your personal email, not SMMK12 email).
Samohi NHS & CSF Faculty Council
*CSF Membership is based on the previous semester’s grades only; therefore, membership is for the Fall 2025 semester.