French Immersion in Saskatchewan has grown a lot over the past decade. It's not just about learning another language anymore—it's about opening doors. Kids who graduate from these programs often have a genuine advantage when it comes to university applications, career opportunities, and honestly, just being able to navigate a bilingual country. In east Regina, you've got two solid schools offering French Immersion programs, and both serve different neighbourhoods. Let me walk you through what each one offers and which areas they cover.
École Wascana Plains School
École Wascana Plains is located in the Greens on Gardiner area, and it's a K-8 school that serves a pretty wide catchment. The school offers both an English program and a French Immersion program, so you've got flexibility depending on what works for your family. Most families I talk to who are buying in this area are drawn by the French Immersion option, especially parents with younger kids who want to start early.
The facility itself is relatively modern—it was built with family growth in mind. Parents consistently tell me the staff is engaged and the community feel is strong. You'll find families from Greens on Gardiner, Wascana View, and several surrounding neighbourhoods all feeding into this school. If you're looking to buy in Greens on Gardiner specifically, you're pretty much guaranteed Wascana Plains will be your school—it's the anchor for that neighbourhood.
The French Immersion program here starts in Kindergarten (early immersion), so if you've got a young child and bilingualism is important to you, this is where you'll want to focus. The curriculum is solid, and kids come out reading, writing, and speaking French at a pretty functional level. That said, French Immersion is demanding—it requires commitment from parents too, especially in the early years when you're helping with homework in a language you might not be totally comfortable with.
École W.S. Hawrylak School
École W.S. Hawrylak is your other French Immersion option in east Regina, and it's located closer to the Spruce Meadows and Woodland Grove area. This is also a K-8 school, and like Wascana Plains, it's relatively modern and well-maintained. Hawrylak serves Spruce Meadows, Woodland Grove, and the surrounding neighbourhoods, so if you're buying in those areas, this is where your kids will likely go.
What I've heard from parents at Hawrylak is that the program is solid and the school has a good reputation. The building itself is in good shape, and there's a real effort to build community. Families in Spruce Meadows tend to be a mix of young professionals and established families, while Woodland Grove skews a bit younger. But they all come together at the school level, and that tends to create a good culture.
Which Neighbourhoods Feed Into Each School?
Here's where it gets practical. Catchment areas matter, and they'll directly affect where you should be looking to buy.
Wascana Plains School serves Greens on Gardiner, Wascana View, and the neighbourhoods immediately surrounding them. If you're buying in Greens on Gardiner—where homes typically range from $450K to $650K for single-family houses and $250K to $400K for townhouses—you're definitely in the Wascana Plains catchment. Same goes for Wascana View, where you're looking at $400K to $550K for most properties.
Hawrylak School serves Spruce Meadows, Woodland Grove, and nearby areas. Homes in Spruce Meadows typically run $350K to $500K, while Woodland Grove homes are usually $370K to $530K.
The catchment areas are pretty clearly defined, but here's my honest advice: before you fall in love with a specific house, verify the school catchment with Regina Public Schools directly. Catchment areas do change, and I don't want you to buy thinking your kid's going to one school only to find out the boundaries shifted.
How French Immersion Registration Works
The registration timeline is important, so pay attention. Regina Public Schools typically opens French Immersion registration in January or early February for the following fall. If you're buying in January and thinking your kids will start French Immersion in September, you're cutting it close—registration fills up fast.
Here's how it usually works: you register your child, and if the program isn't full, you're in. If it is full, you get on a waitlist. Some years the programs have space; other years they don't. It depends on how many kids applied and how many spots the school can accommodate.
One thing a lot of parents don't realize is that there's both early French Immersion (starting in Kindergarten) and late French Immersion (starting in Grade 6). Both Wascana Plains and Hawrylak offer early immersion, so if you've got a kindergarten-aged kid, that's your path. If your child's already in Grade 4 or 5 and you're suddenly thinking about French, late immersion might be an option—but that's a conversation to have directly with the school.
My practical tip: if French Immersion is non-negotiable for your family, register as early as the window opens. Don't wait.
What to Consider When Buying Near a French Immersion School
First, verify the catchment. I'll say it again because it's that important. Look up your address on the Regina Public Schools website or call them directly before you make an offer. You don't want surprises after closing.
Second, think about transportation. Both Wascana Plains and Hawrylak are well-positioned in their respective areas, but if you're buying at the edge of a catchment, your commute could be longer. Some families are totally fine with that; others find it exhausting. That's a personal call.
Third, be honest with yourself about what French Immersion actually means. It's great, and it works—kids come out genuinely bilingual. But it's also demanding. Homework is in French, parent-teacher nights involve French conversations, and if you're not comfortable with French yourself, you'll need to figure out how you're going to support your kid's learning. A lot of families make it work beautifully. Some find it stressful. Just know what you're signing up for.
Finally, remember that school catchment is just one factor in choosing where to live. Your commute to work, the neighbourhood vibe, what's nearby, and your budget all matter too. I'll give you all the options when we're looking at homes together—no rush, no pressure. Let's find something that works for your whole family, not just the school.
If you're seriously thinking about east Regina and French Immersion, head over to east Regina homes for sale to see what's currently available, or reach out and we can dive deeper into the details.
