As of October 2026, Alpine School District, Utah's largest, is in its final school year before it splits into three new districts. On July 1, 2027, it will be replaced by Aspen Peaks (Alpine, American Fork, Cedar Hills, Highland, Lehi and part of Draper), Lake Mountain (Eagle Mountain, Saratoga Springs, Fairfield and Cedar Fort), and Timpanogos (Orem, Lindon, Pleasant Grove and Vineyard). The new districts will start serving students in the 2027-28 school year, and families will still be able to choose schools across district lines under current Utah law.
For a lot of buyers, schools are one of the first things they ask about. For a lot of homeowners, the school district is a big piece of their property tax bill. This split touches both, so here's what's actually changing and what isn't.
Which District Your City Is Joining
New District | Cities | Expected Students |
|---|---|---|
Aspen Peaks | Alpine, American Fork, Cedar Hills, Highland, Lehi, part of Draper | 35,000+ |
Lake Mountain | Eagle Mountain, Saratoga Springs, Fairfield, Cedar Fort | Just under 25,000 |
Timpanogos | Orem, Lindon, Pleasant Grove, Vineyard | About 23,000 |
Aspen Peaks will be the largest of the three. Timpanogos will have 29 schools: four high schools, five junior highs and 20 elementary schools. Timpanogos is the only one with a permanent name so far. Its board chose it in January 2026, and Aspen Peaks and Lake Mountain are still the working names.
How We Got Here
Voters approved the split in November 2024 through two ballot measures. Proposition 14 created the west district, Lake Mountain, and Proposition 11 created the north district, Aspen Peaks. The remaining cities became Timpanogos.
Each new district has a seven-member board, sworn in in late 2025. Each board has been hiring a superintendent and preparing for July 1, 2027, when Alpine School District is dissolved. In June 2026, the three districts signed an agreement dividing Alpine's shared assets by enrollment: 41.78% to Aspen Peaks, 30.16% to Lake Mountain and 28.06% to Timpanogos.
What Happens to Property Taxes
This is the question we get most, and the honest answer is that nobody can give you a final number yet.
Each new district will have its own board, its own budget, and its own property tax rate. Some of the support for the split came from residents who hoped smaller districts would mean lower property taxes. Whether that happens depends on what each board decides once it's running on its own.
What we do know is recent history. In August 2025, Alpine's board approved an 11.5% property tax increase over strong public opposition, saying the money was needed for capital needs now and after the split. As of this writing, we haven't seen the first-year tax rates for the three new districts. When they're published, they'll show up in the Truth in Taxation notices, and we'll write about what they mean for each city.
If you own a home in any of these cities, read your property valuation notice closely next summer. The school district line is the one most likely to look different.
What It Means If You're Buying
Verify the district, not just the school. Listings will say "Alpine School District" until the split. If you're buying in 2026 or early 2027, ask which new district the home falls in and which schools it's assigned to. Boundaries between Aspen Peaks and Timpanogos run between neighboring cities like American Fork and Pleasant Grove, so homes a few streets apart can end up in different districts.
School choice still exists. Families near the boundaries have worried about whether their kids can stay in schools that end up in a different district. According to Aspen Peaks leadership, parents will be able to choose schools regardless of district lines, as current Utah law allows, and Aspen Peaks and Timpanogos are expected to keep Alpine's current process for handling those requests. Space and enrollment caps still apply, so if a specific school matters to you, contact the district before you write an offer.
Don't assume anything about home values yet. We'd be skeptical of anyone who tells you the split will push prices up or down in a specific city. There's no data on that yet, and there won't be until the new districts have been operating for a while.
What It Means If You're Selling
If you're listing before July 2027, your home is technically still in Alpine School District, but buyers will ask about the new one. Know the answer. Telling a buyer "this home will be in Aspen Peaks starting in 2027, and here are the assigned schools" is better than letting them find out on their own. If your home is close to a district boundary, that's even more important.
You can find more about each city in our Utah County neighborhood guides.
What Isn't Changing
Your kids' current school isn't changing this year. The 2026-27 year is Alpine's last, and it started in August like any other. School buildings stay where they are. And Utah's open enrollment rules still apply after the split.
If you're trying to figure out how the split affects a home you're considering or one you're about to list, reach out to our team. We'll help you look up the district and school assignments for the specific address.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Alpine School District split take effect?
Alpine School District dissolves on July 1, 2027. The three new districts, Aspen Peaks, Lake Mountain and Timpanogos, start serving students in the 2027-28 school year. The 2026-27 year is Alpine's last.Which school district will Lehi be in after the split?
Lehi will be in Aspen Peaks, along with Alpine, American Fork, Cedar Hills, Highland and part of Draper. Aspen Peaks will be the largest of the three new districts, with more than 35,000 students.Which school district will Orem be in?
Orem will be in the Timpanogos School District, along with Lindon, Pleasant Grove and Vineyard. Timpanogos will have 29 schools, including four high schools.Which school district will Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs be in?
Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs will be in Lake Mountain, along with Fairfield and Cedar Fort. Lake Mountain is expected to serve just under 25,000 students.Will my property taxes go down after the Alpine split?
It's not known yet. Each new district will set its own property tax rate. Alpine approved an 11.5% increase in August 2025, and as of October 2026 we haven't seen first-year rates published for the three new districts.Can my child stay at their current school if it ends up in a different district?
Generally, yes. Aspen Peaks leadership has said parents will be able to choose schools across district lines as current Utah law allows, and the districts are expected to keep Alpine's current process. Space limits still apply, so check with the district directly.Will the school district split affect home values in Utah County?
There's no reliable data on that yet. The new districts won't start operating until July 2027, and any effect on home values would take time to show up in sales data.
This article is for general informational purposes only and reflects publicly available information at the time of writing. It is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Market data, development proposals, and city decisions can change, so confirm current information with relevant sources and consult qualified professionals for advice specific to your situation.
