AAEC High Schools Celebrate Record Achievements and Expansion Opportunities

Students, families, and staff across the AAEC Early College High School network are celebrating another remarkable year of academic excellence, college achievement, and student success throughout the Phoenix area.

This spring, AAEC honored 337 graduates from its campuses across Arizona. Collectively, the graduating class earned an astounding $29,929,782 in scholarship awards, reflecting the hard work of students and the unique early college opportunities provided through AAEC’s partnership with local community colleges.

AAEC students also continued to excel in college coursework while completing high school requirements. This year’s graduates earned 129 associate degrees from local community colleges before receiving their high school diplomas — an accomplishment that places many students years ahead in their college and career journeys.

Among the district’s most extraordinary accomplishments was the achievement of Daniel Jian from the AAEC Early College High School Estrella Mountain campus. During his junior year of high school, Jian earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Information Technology from Phoenix College, a milestone rarely seen among high school students nationwide.

AAEC students also received some of the nation’s most prestigious academic honors this year. Isabella Pettet was awarded the highly competitive Flinn Scholarship, one of Arizona’s premier scholarship programs recognizing academic achievement, leadership, and community involvement.

In addition, Allison Soare from the AAEC Paradise Valley campus earned recognition as a National Merit Scholarship recipient, placing her among the top academic students in the country.

AAEC leaders also announced continued growth and expansion for the upcoming school year. Beginning this fall, the AAEC Paradise Valley and Mesa campuses will expand to include 7th and 8th grade programs, allowing younger students to begin preparing earlier for AAEC’s signature early college model and career-focused pathways.

District administrators say the expansion reflects increasing community interest in AAEC’s personalized learning environment, small campus culture, and opportunities for students to earn significant college credit while still in high school.

With record scholarship totals, college degrees earned before graduation, nationally recognized scholars, and campus expansion underway, AAEC continues to distinguish itself as one of Arizona’s most innovative and academically successful public charter school systems.