New High School Coming to Saratoga Springs: Everything You Need to Know About Lake Mountain SD

If schools are a factor in your decision to buy in Saratoga Springs or Eagle Mountain — and for most families, they are — the next two years are some of the most significant in the educational history of this part of Utah County.

Ground has broken on a new high school in Saratoga Springs. A brand new school district is launching in 2027. And Lake Mountain School District just purchased 100 acres for a third high school campus that will be unlike anything else in the state.

This is the complete guide to what's happening, when, and what it means for families living here or considering a move.

Why a New High School Was Needed: The Overcrowding Problem

Saratoga Springs and Eagle Mountain have grown faster than almost any community in the United States over the past decade. That growth has been reflected most visibly in two high schools that were never designed to hold this many students.

Westlake High School opened in 2009 to serve Saratoga Springs. According to KSL News Radio, Westlake currently has approximately 3,200 students — and Alpine School District Communications Director Rich Stowell said the school may be the largest in the state by enrollment.

Cedar Valley High School opened in 2019 and was built to relieve some of that pressure by serving Eagle Mountain. According to the Daily Herald, Cedar Valley's enrollment is approximately 3,400 students — and that number is projected to keep growing.

Both schools are exceeding their intended capacities. According to American School & University, Saratoga Springs' population is anticipated to nearly double in the next 10 years — and Eagle Mountain, currently around 70,000 residents, is projected to continue burgeoning growth as well.

Parents and community members raised concerns at board meetings and on social media about overcrowding at Westlake for years before the new school was approved. The question was never whether a new high school was needed — it was how to fund it.

The New Saratoga Springs High School: What We Know

Groundbreaking: June 20, 2025

Community members, local officials, and education leaders gathered at the future campus site on June 20, 2025 for the official groundbreaking ceremony. Alpine School District Board President Julie King captured the moment: "This high school is more than bricks and mortar. It is a promise — a physical embodiment of our faith in the future. It stands as a testament to what we believe as a community: that every child deserves opportunity, that education is a sacred trust."

Location

According to Alpine School District and multiple news sources, the new high school is located near the corner of Mountain View Corridor and Ensign Drive, just west of the Saratoga Springs Utah Temple. The Saratoga Springs Planning Commission unanimously forwarded a recommendation to the City Council to approve the site — per CitizenPortal.ai's summary of the June 2025 planning meeting, where Alpine School District Director of Facilities Frank Polley confirmed the fall 2028 opening timeline.

Expected Opening: Fall 2028

Per KSL, the new high school is scheduled to open in summer 2028, just ahead of the 2028–29 school year. That's one year after the Lake Mountain School District officially takes over operations in the area.

Size: One of the Largest in the State

Multiple sources including the Daily Herald and Alpine School District confirm the new school is projected to be one of the largest high schools in Utah. Superintendent Shane Farnsworth called it "a hallmark for the district's future educational growth" and said it would be "one of the best schools we have."

Funding: $238 Million Bond

Per Eagle Mountain City's report on the groundbreaking, the school is funded by a $238 million lease revenue bond unanimously approved by the Alpine School District Board in April 2025. The bond structure was made possible by tools authorized under Utah's S.B. 188 (School District Modifications), passed during the 2025 General Session. Under this law, lease revenue bonds issued after November 4, 2024 will be the financial responsibility of the newly formed Lake Mountain School District after the 2027 split.

Who It Will Serve

Per Alpine School District's official announcement, the new school will serve families currently in the Westlake High School and Cedar Valley High School boundaries — meaning students from both Saratoga Springs and Eagle Mountain. The official boundary determination for which specific neighborhoods feed to the new school versus staying at Westlake has not yet been finalized and will be announced by the Lake Mountain School District as it develops.

The Lake Mountain School District: What's Changing in 2027

The new high school is only part of the story. Simultaneously, a completely new school district is being formed to serve this part of Utah County — and it launches just one year before the new school opens.

How Lake Mountain School District Was Created

In November 2024, voters approved splitting Alpine School District — which serves roughly 84,000 students — into three separate districts. Lake Mountain School District is one of those three, and will serve Eagle Mountain, Saratoga Springs, Cedar Fort, and Fairfield.

Per Eagle Mountain City's announcement, the Lake Mountain School District Board was sworn in and began operations in late 2025. The district's administrative offices are leased from Saratoga Springs City at 1307 N. Commerce Drive.

When Lake Mountain Takes Over

July 1, 2027 — that is the official date Lake Mountain School District assumes full operations of all schools in Saratoga Springs, Eagle Mountain, Cedar Fort, and Fairfield. If your child is currently at Westlake, Cedar Valley, or any other school in these cities, their school will transfer to Lake Mountain District administration on that date.

What This Means for Families

The curriculum, teachers, and day-to-day operations of existing schools will continue under Lake Mountain District oversight. The most significant near-term change is administrative — the district leadership, policies, and budget will be separate from Alpine School District beginning July 1, 2027.

The Third High School: Lake Mountain's 100-Acre K-16 Campus

The most forward-thinking piece of this story is what Lake Mountain School District announced in May 2026 — and it's genuinely unprecedented in Utah education.

The 100-Acre Purchase

Per KSL, ABC4, the Daily Herald, and Eagle Mountain City, the Lake Mountain School District Board approved the purchase of a 100-acre site in Eagle Mountain for a shared education campus. The location is west of Eagle Mountain Blvd. and north of Mid-Valley Road, according to Eagle Mountain City's announcement.

The district paid $19.75 million for 79 acres through a seller financing agreement, and 21 additional acres were donated by the land developer, bringing the total to 100 acres.

What Will Be Built There

This campus will include three separate but connected institutions:

60 acres: A new Lake Mountain School District high school
20 acres: Mountainland Technical College (MTECH) — allowing high school students to earn technical certifications
20 acres: Utah Valley University (UVU) — allowing high school students to begin college coursework

Board President Julie King told the Daily Herald this will be the first campus in Utah — and possibly in the nation — to include both a university and a technical college alongside a high school. "It's a true K-16 alliance," she said.

Clay Christensen, President of MTECH, described it as "a transformative shift in how a community can deliver high-quality education." Interim UVU President Wayne Vaught added that the partnership will "expand access to relevant, accessible education and help more students transition confidently into college and meaningful careers."

Timeline for the Eagle Mountain Campus

The high school component requires approximately three years to construct once capital funding is secured. Per KUTV's reporting, District officials have not announced a specific opening date for the Eagle Mountain campus — King described it as "several years out." Planning and design will begin once capital funding is confirmed.

What This Means for Saratoga Springs and Eagle Mountain Home Buyers

Schools are consistently one of the top factors families cite when choosing where to buy a home — and for years, the overcrowding at Westlake and Cedar Valley has been a legitimate concern for families moving to this area.

The trajectory has changed significantly:

The immediate problem is being solved. The new Saratoga Springs high school opening in fall 2028 directly addresses Westlake's overcrowding. Students from the Westlake and Cedar Valley boundaries will have a third option.

The new district is designed for growth. Lake Mountain School District Board President Julie King has been explicit: "We're not thinking just about today's students, but we are considering generations to come. Instead of reacting to growth, we're designing a system that's ready for the growth that we know is coming."

The K-16 Eagle Mountain campus is a genuine differentiator. No other community in Utah County — and arguably in the state — will offer high school students direct access to university courses and technical certifications on the same campus without a commute.

Property values follow school quality. As I covered in my Lake Mountain School District guide for Eagle Mountain buyers, the creation of a dedicated local school district gives this community a level of local control and accountability that has historically correlated with stronger school performance and higher property values over time.

For buyers currently weighing Saratoga Springs versus other Utah County cities, I covered the complete comparison in my Utah County vs. Salt Lake County guide.

Timeline Summary

Date	Milestone
November 2024	Voters approve splitting Alpine School District
April 2025	$238M bond unanimously approved for new Saratoga Springs high school
June 20, 2025	Groundbreaking ceremony — new Saratoga Springs high school
Late 2025	Lake Mountain School District Board sworn in
January 2026	LMSD establishes administrative offices in Saratoga Springs
April 30, 2026	LMSD purchases 100-acre Eagle Mountain campus site
July 1, 2027	Lake Mountain School District officially takes over all operations
Fall 2028	New Saratoga Springs high school opens
TBD	Eagle Mountain K-16 campus opens (high school + MTECH + UVU)

Let's Talk About Schools and Buying in Saratoga Springs →

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the new Saratoga Springs high school opening? The new high school is expected to open in fall 2028, just ahead of the 2028–29 school year. Ground broke on June 20, 2025. The school is funded by a $238 million lease revenue bond unanimously approved by the Alpine School District Board in April 2025.

Where is the new Saratoga Springs high school located? Near the corner of Mountain View Corridor and Ensign Drive, just west of the Saratoga Springs Utah Temple. The Saratoga Springs Planning Commission unanimously approved the site, and final site plans were submitted to the city in June 2025.

What is the Lake Mountain School District? Lake Mountain School District is a new school district formed when voters approved splitting Alpine School District three ways in November 2024. It will serve Eagle Mountain, Saratoga Springs, Cedar Fort, and Fairfield. The district officially takes over all school operations in these cities on July 1, 2027.

How does the new high school affect Westlake and Cedar Valley boundaries? The new school will draw students from the current Westlake and Cedar Valley boundaries to relieve overcrowding at both schools. Specific boundary determinations have not been finalized and will be announced by Lake Mountain School District before the 2028 opening.

Why are Westlake and Cedar Valley so overcrowded? Saratoga Springs and Eagle Mountain are among the fastest-growing cities in the country. Saratoga Springs led the entire state of Utah in population growth between July 2024 and July 2025, gaining 4,682 residents in a single year. Westlake, built in 2009, now has approximately 3,200 students. Cedar Valley, built in 2019, has approximately 3,400 — both significantly above their intended capacities.

What is the 100-acre Eagle Mountain campus with UVU and MTECH? Lake Mountain School District purchased 100 acres in Eagle Mountain (west of Eagle Mountain Blvd., north of Mid-Valley Road) in April 2026 for a joint campus that will include a new high school (60 acres), Mountainland Technical College (20 acres), and Utah Valley University (20 acres). The Daily Herald reports it will be the first campus in Utah to include both a university and a technical college alongside a high school — a true K-16 pathway.

Does the school district change affect my home's value? School quality and district identity are consistently among the top factors families cite when choosing where to buy. The creation of a dedicated local district typically increases community accountability and local investment in school quality — both of which have historically correlated with stronger property values over time.

Written by Kat Ashby, Principal Broker and Realtor® at RootQuest Realty LLC in Saratoga Springs, Utah. Kat holds a Utah Division of Real Estate Principal Broker license (Credential #10382396-PB00) — a designation that requires demonstrated experience, additional coursework, and a separate licensing exam beyond the standard agent license. She has been actively selling in Utah County since 2020, with deep experience across Lehi, Eagle Mountain, Saratoga Springs, and the broader Wasatch Front, specializing in buyer and seller representation, new construction, and corporate relocation through Altair Global. She is fluent in English and Portuguese, earned her bachelor's degree in Psychology from Brigham Young University, and lives in the community she sells in.