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. Due to AMES’s focus on diversity, AMES reaches out to several cities around the Utah valley, providing education to all students and minorities. The school depends and offers buses to fulfil transportation needs. Total enrollment is capped at about 500 students.