January 10th, 2024

Applications for the French immersion program are open until Wednesday, January 31, 2024.

Apply for French Immersion

Families of children born in 2017: Apply for the French immersion program.

Need help with the application process?

WRDSB French Programs

French language programs at the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) begin in Grade 1. All students learn French through the core French program by listening, speaking, reading and writing. In Grade 1, students and families can choose one of two pathways for French language learning for the Grade 2 school year:

French Immersion

Students enrolled in French immersion spend 58% of their day learning in French (Grades 2 to 6). In alignment with Ministry of Education requirements, the French immersion program offers a minimum of 3,800 instructional hours by Grade 8.

Subjects taught in French immersion include:

  • Grades 2 to 6
    • French Language and Social Studies
  • Grades 7 and 8
    • French Language, History and Geography
  • Grades 2 to 8, as needed to meet French minutes requirement
    • The Arts (Visual Arts, Drama, Dance and Music)
    • Health & Physical Education

Students completing French immersion from Grades 2 to 8 can continue their French pathway in select secondary schools.

Learn More About French Immersion

Find more information on the WRDSB website:

Core French

Core French is taught to all students in WRDSB elementary and secondary schools not enrolled in French immersion. Students learn the French language by listening, speaking, reading and writing. Students are automatically enrolled in core French starting in Grade 1. Students enrolled in core French are provided with a minimum of 600 hours of French language instruction by the end of Grade 8.

Students are automatically enrolled in core French. There is no application required for core French.

Learn more about French Programs at the WRDSB.

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

If I apply to French immersion, am I guaranteed a spot?

No; the WRDSB does not guarantee anyone a spot in Grade 2 French immersion. In cases where demand for a Grade 2 French immersion program exceeds the capacity to offer the program, a lottery system is used to determine which students are accepted.

The lottery system establishes Grade 2 French immersion classes. Preference is given to home school students who apply before January 31.

Students are considered home school students when:

  • Students live within the boundary of the neighbourhood school (determined by your home address)
  • Students have an older sibling attending a French Immersion school

Students in these situations have priority for entry into a Grade 2 French immersion class if they apply by January 31 (Phase 1). All applications after February 1 are processed on a first-come, first-served basis (Phase 2).

Which school will my child attend?

There are no attendance boundaries for French immersion.

If your home school offers French immersion, we will try and place your child there first. You may also select two additional schools on your application. If your home school does not currently offer French immersion, you may select three other schools on your application.

If my child secures a spot in the French immersion program, can my other children attend the same school even if it is not their “home school”?

Yes.

Are French immersion students eligible for transportation?

The guidelines used to determine eligibility in the WRDSB’s transportation policy apply to students attending their home school for the French Immersion program. Transportation to an out-of-boundary school for French immersion is not provided.

When will we know if our child has secured a spot in the program?

Families will be notified in early March if they have secured a spot in the program. Spots will be guaranteed for two weeks. During these two weeks, families must click on the link sent to their email to confirm the placement. If families decline their spot, students from the waiting list will be contacted to fill those vacancies.

Find answers to more frequently asked questions.