Buying a home in Saskatoon with French Immersion in mind? In Saskatoon Public Schools, where you live decides which elementary French Immersion school your child attends, because each neighbourhood is mapped to one of nine schools. This guide shows every school, the neighbourhoods in its zone and where to find homes for sale in each zone.
How French Immersion Works in Saskatoon Public Schools
Students generally enter French Immersion in Kindergarten or Grade 1, and parents do not need to speak French. Instruction is about 100% in French from Kindergarten to Grade 2 and about 75% in French from Grades 3 to 8, when English Language Arts is added. Most of the schools are dual-track, running English and French Immersion side by side; École Henry Kelsey and École Victoria are French Immersion only. Free busing may be available for students leaving their home neighbourhood to attend the French Immersion program in their area.
Elementary French Immersion Schools and Their Zones
Each school page lists its full zone and live homes for sale in it.
| School | Program | Zone neighbourhoods |
|---|
| École Alvin Buckwold | English + French Immersion | Adelaide/Churchill, Holliston (south of Taylor), Nutana Park, Stonebridge |
| École College Park | English + French Immersion | Brevoort Park, East College Park, Greystone Heights, Wildwood |
| École Dundonald | English + French Immersion | Dundonald, Confederation Park, Hampton Village, Kensington, Westview |
| École Forest Grove | English + French Immersion | Forest Grove, Arbor Creek, Brighton, Erindale, Sutherland, University Heights |
| École Henry Kelsey | French Immersion only | Blairmore, Caswell Hill, Confederation Suburban Centre, Fairhaven, Holiday Park, King George, Massey Place, Mayfair, Meadowgreen, Montgomery Place, Mount Royal, Pacific Heights, Parkridge, Pleasant Hill, Riversdale, Westmount |
| École Lakeview | English + French Immersion | Lakeview, Briarwood, Lakeridge, Lakewood, Rosewood |
| École River Heights | English + French Immersion | River Heights, Downtown, City Park, Kelsey-Woodlawn, Lawson Heights, North Park, Richmond Heights, Silverwood Heights |
| École Silverspring | English + French Immersion | Silverspring, Aspen Ridge, Evergreen, Willowgrove |
| École Victoria | French Immersion only | Nutana, Avalon, Buena Vista, Exhibition, Grosvenor Park, Haultain, Holliston (north of Taylor), Queen Elizabeth, Varsity View, The Willows |
Zones come from the Saskatoon Public Schools French Immersion handbook dated April 2021. The division's website now uses an interactive map, and zones can change, especially in fast-growing areas such as Brighton, Aspen Ridge, Evergreen and Kensington. Confirm the current French Immersion school for a specific address with Saskatoon Public Schools before you buy.
High School French Immersion
Students can continue French Immersion from Grades 9 to 12 at four Saskatoon Public Schools collegiates. Collegiates operate with open boundaries, so students register at the collegiate of their choice.
Catholic and Nearby-Community French Immersion
Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools also offers French Immersion at some of its schools, with its own catchment maps at gscs.ca. Outside the city, École Warman Elementary offers French Immersion in Warman, and École Holy Mary Catholic School offers it in Martensville. See the Warman and Martensville guides.
Tips for Buying a Home in a French Immersion Zone
Check the zone before you write an offer
Neighbourhood zones are a strong starting point, but Holliston is split at Taylor Street and newer areas may have been rezoned since 2021. Ask the division about the exact address.
Ask about busing
If the French Immersion school isn't in your neighbourhood, ask the school whether busing is available from the home you're considering.
Compare neighbourhoods in the same zone
Some zones cover very different neighbourhoods. Henry Kelsey's zone, for example, runs from character homes in Caswell Hill to newer homes in Blairmore. Use our neighbourhood comparison tool to see two areas side by side.
French Immersion FAQ
Which Saskatoon public schools offer French Immersion?
Elementary French Immersion is offered at nine schools: École Alvin Buckwold, College Park, Dundonald, Forest Grove, Henry Kelsey, Lakeview, River Heights, Silverspring and Victoria. High school French Immersion is offered at Walter Murray, Centennial, Marion M. Graham and Tommy Douglas collegiates.
How do I know which French Immersion school serves a home?
Find the neighbourhood in the table above, then confirm the current school for that exact address with Saskatoon Public Schools.
Do parents need to speak French?
No. The division says most French Immersion parents have little or no French.
When do students start French Immersion?
Generally in Kindergarten or Grade 1.
Is there busing?
Saskatoon Public Schools says free busing may be available for students leaving their home neighbourhood to attend the French Immersion program in their area.
