In 1996-97 North Yarmouth Academy accepted membership in the Cum Laude Society. The purpose of Cum Laude is to honor academic excellence in secondary schools, and charters are granted only to schools with strong academic programs. Each chapter must demonstrate, through its resources, program, and student profile, the capacity to maintain a high level of academic aspiration and achievement. Most members of the Cum Laude Society are independent schools.

As provided in the Society’s Constitution, the school may elect no more than 20% of the senior class who have demonstrated excellence. At the end of the second term of each year, the school will elect the top 10% of the junior class; the remaining 10% will be elected at the end of the second term of their senior year.

Annually, North Yarmouth Academy will elect to membership students whose academic achievement places them in the top 20% of the class and who also have demonstrated good character, honor, and integrity in all aspects of their school life. The motto of the Society reads: “Excellence, Justice, Honor.”

Prior to consideration for membership in the Cum Laude Society, a student must have completed two full years at North Yarmouth Academy for election in the junior year and three full years for membership in the senior year. A student who studies at another institution during all or part of the junior year will not be eligible for induction in the spring of the junior year, but will become eligible in the spring of the senior year.

If a student becomes a member of Cum Laude Society in the junior year and subsequently leaves NYA, that student’s place will remain vacant until new members are selected in the spring of the senior year.

Continued membership in the Society is contingent on the student’s upholding of the Student Honor Code. At the discretion of the Cum Laude Society faculty committee, a student who violates the Code may be asked to withdraw from the society. In addition, a student who commits an offense involving academic dishonesty in the junior year may not be considered for membership until spring of senior year. At that time, membership will be entirely at the discretion of the committee, and the severity of the circumstances will be carefully considered in membership consideration. The committee reserves the right to deny the privilege of membership based on a single offense. A student who has committed more than one offense involving academic dishonesty at any time in high school will not be considered for membership.