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A new elementary school in Juniper West has been an advocacy priority for the Kamloops Thompson Board of Education since 2021.

Juniper Ridge Elementary continues to be over capacity at 120% with 12% of current students in portables. Ralph Bell Elementary is also over-capacity at 123% with 20% of students in two portables. Both schools are expected to have steady growth due to notable development in the Juniper Ridge neighbourhood. The average capacity utilisation of both elementary schools is expected to grow to around 130% over the next 10 years.

Since the reopening of Ralph Bell Elementary in September 2022, there are approximately 119 students living in Juniper Ridge that are attending Ralph Bell. Even after catchment changes to neighbourhood schools in 2022, enrollment is expected to continue to grow, making a new elementary school in Juniper West necessary in coming years.