The Arizona Agribusiness and Equine Center (AAEC) is a chain of public charter high schools focusing on early college students with concurrent enrollment in community college classes with tuition costs paid for by AAEC. Students can gain two years into their college advancement. The schools also have a highly successful Career and Technical Education (CTE) in Agriscience focusing on Agribusiness, Veterinary, and Equine Sciences. The schools are located on college campuses in collaboration with Maricopa County Community College District and Yavapai Community College. The system was founded in 1997 with the establishment of the South Mountain campus. Since then, the chain has been expanded to incorporate six separate campuses, which are located within the Greater Phoenix Valley area and Prescott Valley.