Summary:
The 84121 zip code area in Utah is home to three high schools: Brighton High, Cottonwood High, and Academy for Math Engineering & Science (AMES). These schools serve students in grades 9-12 and are located within the Canyons District, Granite District, and Academy for Math Engineering & Science, respectively.
Among the three high schools, the standout performer is the Academy for Math Engineering & Science (AMES), a public magnet charter school that has consistently ranked among the top 20 high schools in Utah. AMES significantly outperforms the other two schools and the state/district averages in proficiency rates for the Utah Aspire Plus assessments in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science. For example, in 2024-2025, 74.8% of 10th graders at AMES were proficient or better in ELA, compared to 57.4% at Brighton High and 33.3% at Cottonwood High.
While the three schools have similar 4-year graduation rates around 88-89% and dropout rates around 9-10%, there are notable differences in their student demographics and resource allocation. Cottonwood High, which serves a higher proportion of economically disadvantaged students, has a much higher percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch (52.78%) compared to Brighton High (15%) and AMES (15.57%). Additionally, AMES has the lowest per-student spending at $8,828 and the smallest class sizes, with a student-teacher ratio of 20:1, suggesting it is the most efficient in translating resources into strong academic outcomes.
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