 AMES is a fully NAAS Accredited School as of 2004.AMES was founded in 2003 as part of a state initiative known as the New Century High Schools from former Governor of Utah Leavitt “ to give Utah high school students greater access and opportunities for advancement in specialized fields of study for a better Utah”.It is intended to be an alternative to the traditional type of high school, and as such AMES limits its enrollment to keep a "small school" environment and focuses on providing education all around the valley, and serving a diverse population.