High School Fraternities and Sororities

Fraternities and sororities exist for high school students as well as college students. Like their college counterparts, most have Greek letter names. Although there were countless local high school fraternities and sororities with only one or two chapters, many secondary fraternities founded in the nineteenth and twentieth century in the United States grew into national organizations with a highly evolved governing structure and regularly chartered chapters in multiple regions. Many of the local chapters of these national fraternities were not tied to (or affiliated with) individual high schools but were instead area based, often drawing membership from multiple high schools in a given area.

High school fraternities and sororities were inspired by and modeled after Greek-letter organizations which became prevalent in North American colleges and universities during the nineteenth century (Owen 492). In some respects these fraternities and sororities are designed to better prepare individuals for college level fraternities. The first known high school fraternity was Torch and Dagger in Council Bluffs, Iowa, founded in 1859. This organization existed with lapses from 1861 to 1866 and again from 1880 to 1893. In 1900 it was renamed Omega Eta Tau and began expanding nationally. Gamma Sigma was organized in October 1869 at Brockport Normal School (then a high school level institution, but now a college). Alpha Zeta came into existence at the Union Classical Institute in Schenectady, New York (associated with Union College, home of the college fraternity movement) on December 8, 1869, Alpha Phi followed one year later at the Colgate Academy (connected with Colgate University) and Pi Phi was founded in 1878 at Rochester Free Academy (associated with University of Rochester). Pi Phi spread to more than 110 chapters before lapsing into only alumni chapters in the 1980s. Most of the American secondary fraternities that were successful in the twentieth century had national governing bodies, produced regular publications and convened in regular (often annual) national conventions. They also each possessed a secret ritual and handshake and a Greek-letter name which, like college fraternities was usually derived from the abbreviation of a secret Greek motto. These groups were identified by a coat-of-arms and members wore distinctive fraternity badges or pins.

A pledge is any eligible male or female of high school age (or frequently, about to enter high school) who has determined that he or she would like to join the fraternity or sorority and has been approved by the chapter. To be eligible he or she must be of age. First, the person needs to contact a brother or sister, be contacted by a brother or sister, or come to a meeting for those interested in joining the fraternity or sorority. The pledging phase is designed to prepare the individual to be a completely active and equal member of the chapter from the induction day. During the pledge period, most fraternities and sororities now emphasize a no hazing policy. Pledges may be allowed to attend meetings and participate in fraternity-wide events and may also organize their own. Before induction, pledges must complete certain tasks which include planning and executing certain events.

Some of the more important high school fraternities have included, Alpha Nu Theta, Alpha Omega Theta (AΩΘ), Alpha Phi (ΑΦ), Alpha Sigma Phi (ΑΣΦ), Alpha Zeta (AZ), Delta Phi Omega (ΔΦΩ), Delta Sigma (ΔΣ), Gamma Delta Psi (ΓΔΨ), Alpha Chi (AX), Gamma Alpha Nu (ΓAN), Gamma Eta Kappa (ΓΗΚ), Omega Gamma Delta (ΩΓΔ), Omicron Kappa Pi (ΟΚΠ), Phi Kappa (ΦΚ), Phi Lambda Epsilon (ΦΛΕ), Phi Sigma Chi (ΦΣΧ), Phi Sigma Epsilon (ΦΣΕ), Pi Phi (ΠΦ), Sigma Phi Omega Fraternity (ΣΦΩ) and Theta Kappa Omega (ΘΚΩ). Pi Phi National Fraternity was founded in 1878 by members of the Academy Debate Club. Delta Sigma was founded at Lewis Institute in Chicago, in September 1897, as an athletic society fostering clean athletics, loyalty and high ideas. Delta Sigma was arguably the first secondary fraternity to accept members of the Jewish and Catholic faiths. Sigma Alpha Rho (SAR) (ΣAP), Tau Epsilon Chi (TEX), Alpha Mu Tau (AMT), Alpha Chi (AX), and Beta Delta Tau (BΔT), are secondary fraternities and sororities respectively that are still active and successful today. SAR was founded in 1917 in West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, while Tau Epsilon Chi (TEX) was founded in Atlantic City, New Jersey in 1921. Alpha Mu Tau (AMT) was founded in 2000 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Alpha Chi (AX) was founded in Memphis, Tennessee in 1999 and Beta Delta Tau (BΔT) was founded in 2004 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. These organizations still provide valuable learning and life experiences today unlike many others which have died in recent decades. All allow their members to plan, execute, and attend any events that they wish and bring the entire organization together with monthly events. The presumed newest fraternity, Alpha Delta Sigma (αδε), was established in Atlanta Georgia in 2011, and is affiliated with Riverwood High School or Riverwood International Charter School.

In the Detroit, Michigan area, Gamma Psi Nu Musical Fraternity (established in 1992) and Nu Gamma Delta Music Sorority (established in 1994) are both still very active. Both organizations boast an impressive number of chapters, and a lengthy roster of members.

Beginning with the 1900s, some state governments banned fraternities and sororities in public schools, driving them underground, or out of existence. California passed a law banning them in 1906.