French Immersion

French Immersion is a proven way of acquiring excellent language skills in French. The French Immersion program at HWDSB is specifically designed for parents who do not speak French, but want their children to speak both official languages. The program is open to HWDSB students starting in Grade 1.

An immersion program means that French is not only the medium in which subjects are taught, but it is also the means of communication between students and the teacher in the classroom and, as much as possible, beyond the classroom.

French Immersion requires that French must be the language of instruction for a minimum of 50 per cent of the total instructional time and provide a minimum of 3,800 hours of French instruction by the end of grade 8. At HWDSB, we strive to offer more than the minimum requirement each year from grades 1 to 6. In grades 7 and 8, 50 to 60 per cent of the program is taught in French.

HWDSB guarantees a placement within the French Immersion program, but not necessarily the closest neighbourhood school. Here is the criteria for French Immersion placement:

• Availability of the program closest to the student’s home address, based on their French Immersion boundary.
• Grade 1 siblings entering French Immersion may attend the same school as their older sibling currently in French Immersion, space permitting.
• Balance of English and French Immersion enrolment in dual track schools (50-60 per cent in English or French).
• Year over year impact as students progress through Grades 1-8.

Transportation for French Immersion is offered to students whose in catchment school exceeds the walking distances of 1.6 kilometers for Grade 1 to 8 students. The method of transportation for elementary French Immersion is:

• Grades 1 to 6 – Black and Yellow Buses with community stops. A community stop is a centrally-located stop, similar to a transit style stop, for students and may not be within walking distance of a student’s home. Community stops may change year to year based on the home addresses of students.
• Grades 7 and 8 – HSR (unless there is an existing route that accommodates these students)

Where HSR is not available, alternative transportation will be provided.

Transportation to a French Immersion program offered at an out-of-catchment school, for example, a school that is not your child’s neighbourhood school, is the responsibility of the parent/guardian.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

French Immersion email for further questions: [email protected]

2025- 2026 French Immersion Application Process

French Immersion Information Night – YouTube