Education Evolved 

Currently, AAEC is a thriving four-campus independent public high school district specializing in a college preparatory program with sites connected to Mesa Community College, Paradise Valley Community College, South Mountain Community College, and now Estrella Mountain Community College. AAEC has a reputation in the Valley for preparing students of various academic backgrounds and abilities for college level studies in all disciplines. Remaining true to its origins, AAEC continues to offer outstanding instruction in the sciences for students interested in careers in biotechnology, veterinarian studies, equine science and agriculture-related fields. AAEC is focused on preparing students for future success. Our teachers work with industry partners to update and strengthen our curriculum. We also study labor projections to focus our offerings on professions which will be in demand in the future. Each campus is designed to provide educational choice for up to 500 high school students. All AAEC campuses are located next to or on a community college campus. The schools attract students and families from all over the Phoenix Valley who have many different interests. Alumni studies show that graduates pursue a wide variety of college majors. Independent status allows AAEC, through an open enrollment policy, to draw a wide range of students from across the city and state to its uniquely blended high school/college model.

AAEC Philosophy

Helping students to identify their interests and passions, and exploring how they can be used to discover and select career and real life work choices are central to our core mission of educating young adults for a technologically advanced society. Our faculty focuses instruction on student interests and academic and social needs. Students’ interests and passions are nested in a rigorous core curriculum of English, Mathematics, Science, History and Foreign language. Each AAEC campus is an intimate community of caring adults and engaged students working in small groups allowing for personalized guidance and direction.

AAEC pledges to provide all students with what they need to succeed:

• A superior academic program that meets students where they are academically and socially, and prepares them for college.
• Advanced coursework.
• Comprehensive student support services.
• Small classes and an intimate high school environment.
• An authentic college experience that allows students to enroll in college classes and participate fully in the life of the post-secondary partner.

Exceptional Faculty

AAEC hires highly qualified instructors with substantial academic preparation as well as extensive professional experience. Our faculty includes master teachers and professionals from industry who bring real-world knowledge into classroom practice. Our teachers have had careers in engineering, academic research, veterinary medicine, business, publishing and a variety of other fields.