January 7th, 2026

Applications for the French Immersion program are open until Saturday, January 31, 2026.

Apply for French Immersion

Parents, families and caregivers of children born in 2019: 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. Two pathways for French language learning begin in Grade 2. This video highlights the learning experiences across the French pathways:

  • French Immersion
  • Core French

French Immersion – Application Required

Students, parents, families and caregivers interested in French Immersion must complete an application process. Applications for the 2026-27 school year close on January 31, 2026.

Grades 2 to 6

Beginning in Grade 2, students enrolled in French Immersion spend 58% of their day learning in French.
Subjects taught in French Immersion include:

  • French Language Arts
  • Social Studies
  • Visual Arts
  • Drama/Dance/Music
  • Physical Education

Grades 7 and 8

Students in French Immersion continue their learning in French for 50% of the day.
Subjects taught in French Immersion include:

  • French Language Arts
  • Geography/History
  • A combination of Visual Arts, Drama, Music and/or Physical Education

Students who have completed Grade 8 French Immersion can continue their French language 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 our elementary and secondary schools as part of WRDSB’s mandate to provide early access to French language learning. Students learn French through experiences centred around listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Students are automatically enrolled in Core French starting in Grade 1. By the end of Grade 8, students following the Core French pathway will have received at least 600 hours of French language instruction.

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?

The WRDSB does not guarantee a spot in the French Immersion program. When demand exceeds the program’s capacity, a lottery system determines which students are offered placement.

The lottery system establishes Grade 2 French Immersion classes. Designated school students who apply before January 31 (Phase 1) receive priority.

Students are considered Designated School students when:

  • Students live within the boundary of the neighbourhood school (determined by your home address)
  • Students have an Out-of-Boundary Acknowledgement Letter on file at the school.

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 Designated School offers French Immersion, we will try to place your child there first. You may also select two additional schools on your application. You may choose three other schools if your Designated School does not offer French Immersion.

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 “Designated School”?
Yes, they can attend the same school, but admission to the French Immersion program is not guaranteed.

Are French Immersion students eligible for transportation?
The guidelines used to determine eligibility in the WRDSB’s transportation policy apply to students attending their Designated 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?
Parents, families and caregivers will be notified in March if they have secured a spot in the program. Spots will be held for two weeks. During these two weeks, applicants must click on the link sent to their email to confirm the placement. When spots are declined, students from the wait list will be contacted to fill those vacancies.

Find answers to more frequently asked questions.