‘Strong, connected and resilient:’ Juniper Basin Elementary opens in Eagle Mountain
-
- School officials cut a ribbon to open Juniper Basin Elementary Wednesday, August 12, 2026, in Eagle Mountain.
-
- A student cuts a ribbon to open Juniper Basin Elementary Wednesday, August 12, 2026, in Eagle Mountain.
-
- Juniper Basin Elementary as shown Wednesday, August 12, 2026, in Eagle Mountain.
-
- Alpine Superintendent Rob Smith speaks to students at Juniper Basin Elementary’s ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday, August 12, 2026, in Eagle Mountain.
-
- Juniper Basin Elementary as shown Wednesday, August 12, 2026, in Eagle Mountain.
The state’s newest elementary school, Juniper Basin, officially opened in Eagle Mountain with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday.
Named after a tree known for its deep roots and resilience, Principal John Emett considers it the ideal name for the new school.
“We love the name and are committed to being as strong, connected and resilient as our new name indicates,” Emett said in a news release. ” … Our school will be a place where students feel welcome, and where they can grow and develop.”
Located on 5407 Slate River Road, west of Cedar Valley High School, the elementary school is part of the soon-to-be dissolved Alpine School District and the new Lake Mountain School District, which begins enrolling students next year.
Juniper Basin will service students in Eagle Mountain, Cedar Fort and Fairfield.
“We are proud to be part of a community of builders,” Alpine Superintendent Rob Smith said in a news release. “For the past few decades, Alpine School District has built more facilities than any other district in the state, and this new school in Eagle Mountain is a beautiful demonstration of the commitment to build meaningful spaces and opportunities for the future.”
Juniper Basin’s opening comes months after Cedar Valley Elementary in Cedar Fort closed its doors. The Alpine School Board voted to close Cedar Valley in a December 2025 meeting, citing the building’s limited capacity and infrastructure challenges. The school had 130 students last year.
Alpine School District spokesman Rich Stowell told the Daily Herald on Wednesday that Juniper Basin will have approximately 800 students. While Cedar Valley only had one teacher per grade, this school will have up to three teachers per grade, he added.
“One of the benefits of consolidating schools is you can get teachers collaborating more,” Stowell said.
Juniper Basin was financed as part of a $238 million bond that will go toward building a second Saratoga Springs High School.
The school is the most modern facility Alpine has constructed, with an efficient HVAC system and skylights throughout, according to Stowell. He said the goal is for the administration to not have to worry about building maintenance.
“We’re building on what we know and just making slight improvements,” he said.
