Published 30 October 2026 · By Jatin Dua, Broker of Record, RE/MAX Quantum Realty
My five picks for French Immersion schools in Etobicoke are Richview Collegiate Institute (dual-track secondary, over half its students in French), John English Junior Middle School (French Immersion JK to 8 in Mimico), Rosethorn Junior School (French Immersion JK to 5), Melody Village Junior School (full French Immersion centre in north Etobicoke) and Our Lady of Peace Catholic School (TCDSB Early French Immersion since 1984). The order is my judgement, not an official ranking.
How I chose these five
I picked five Etobicoke schools where French Immersion is confirmed on a Toronto District School Board (TDSB) or Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) page, spread from the lakeshore to north Etobicoke. Four are TDSB schools and one is a TCDSB school.
- Confirmed French Immersion: each school’s board page says it offers French Immersion, or describes itself as a French Immersion school.
- A full pathway: I included a secondary school so families can see where elementary French Immersion leads.
- Geography: south, central and north Etobicoke, because French Immersion seats are assigned by address.
The TDSB’s Early French Immersion page says the entry point is Junior Kindergarten, and the next entry point, according to TDSB school pages, is Grade 4 through Middle French Immersion. Applications for September 2027 open November 2, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. and close November 27, 2026 at 4:00 p.m., for children born in 2023.
French Immersion is different from a French-language school. Ontario says French-language schools, run by boards such as Conseil scolaire Viamonde and Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir, teach the curriculum in French for families who are French-language rights holders under section 23 of the Charter; other families can apply through an admission committee. I have kept this list to French Immersion in the English-language boards.
The order is my judgement, not an official ranking. Always confirm your French program pathway with the board’s address tool.
1. Richview Collegiate Institute
What it offers
Richview tops my list because French sits at the centre of the school. The TDSB profile describes it as a dual-track school offering French and English instruction, and states, “Over 50% of our students are enrolled in French programming.”
Students can work toward a French certificate with 10 credits or an honours certificate with 11 credits. The profile also lists co-op, music, drama and visual arts, leadership courses, about 80 clubs and teams, and a Gold Level Eco School designation.
What it means for buyers and renters
If you are buying for a child already in elementary French Immersion, ask which secondary school your pathway leads to before you buy. The TDSB has opened a second Etobicoke secondary French Immersion site at Lakeshore Collegiate Institute, 350 Kipling Avenue, which lists French Immersion courses for Grades 9 and 10 in 2025/2026, with Grades 11 and 12 still marked TBD for 2026 and 2027.
Some program highlights on Richview’s profile are labelled 2017-2018, so confirm current details at an open house.
Practical notes
- Address: 1738 Islington Ave, Etobicoke, ON M9A 3N2
- Grades: 9 to 12
- Board: TDSB
- French: French Immersion (dual-track), bilingual certificates
2. John English Junior Middle School
What it offers
John English is the lakeshore pick, with French Immersion running all the way from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8 alongside an English program. The TDSB profile says the school serves over 800 students.
The board page describes the school as “a dynamic, innovative and progressive centre for public education in the Lakeshore community.” It runs a parent-built Healthy Bites Lunch Program, started in 2008, which provides a meal up to four days a week for a small cost.
What it means for buyers and renters
A JK to 8 French Immersion school means no move for your child until high school. That stability is a real advantage for families buying a long-term home in Mimico or the surrounding lakeshore neighbourhoods.
The school moved into the former Mimico High School building in 1993, and its original one-room school opened in 1884. The building also hosts a community school with classes for students and adults.
Practical notes
- Address: 95 Mimico Ave, Etobicoke, ON M8V 1R4
- Grades: JK to 8
- Board: TDSB
- French: French Immersion, JK to Grade 8
3. Rosethorn Junior School
What it offers
Rosethorn is the central Etobicoke pick for a smaller school. The TDSB profile describes it as “a French Immersion Kindergarten to grade 5 school” with 376 students, teaching in both of Canada’s official languages.
The board page lists specialist music and art teachers who link lessons to literacy and math, choirs that perform at board-wide events, and a homework club. Rosethorn Satellite Daycare provides before- and after-school care and kindergarten daycare.
What it means for buyers and renters
Rosethorn ends at Grade 5, so your child will move schools for Grade 6. Ask the board where the French Immersion pathway continues from your address so you know the next step before you buy.
The profile notes a strong sense of community, with many parents and community members who once attended the school themselves. That kind of continuity often signals families who stay put for years.
Practical notes
- Address: 2 Remington Dr, Etobicoke, ON M9A 2J1
- Grades: JK to 5
- Board: TDSB
- French: French Immersion with English students also on site; satellite daycare
4. Melody Village Junior School
What it offers
Melody Village is the north Etobicoke pick and the only full French Immersion centre on this list. Its TDSB profile says, “We are a fully French Immersion Center–the only one of its kind in the northwest part of the board.”
The school runs from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8. The board page lists an itinerant music program, sports teams, chess and Oware clubs, outdoor education trips and a library with a vaulted ceiling, and it holds Silver Eco School status.
What it means for buyers and renters
For families in north Etobicoke, a dedicated French Immersion school close to home can mean shorter bus rides and a whole school community built around French. The TDSB provides school bus transportation for French Immersion students in JK to Grade 5 who live more than 1.6 km from their assigned school.
Because it is a single-track school, every classmate is in French Immersion, which some parents prefer for immersion intensity. Others prefer a dual-track school where siblings in different programs can attend the same building, so think about which suits your family.
Practical notes
- Address: 520 Silverstone Dr, Etobicoke, ON M9V 3L5
- Grades: JK to 8
- Board: TDSB
- French: Full French Immersion centre
5. Our Lady of Peace Catholic School
What it offers
Our Lady of Peace is the Catholic French Immersion pick. The TCDSB page describes it as an “Early French Immersion school serving students from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8,” and says its first French Immersion class started in 1984.
The school also lists special education, enrichment and gifted learning, vocal and instrumental music, and design and technology resources supported by its Catholic School Council. Its motto is bilingual: “Let the Spirit of Peace Be Your Guide / Que l’Esprit de la Paix soit votre guide.”
What it means for buyers and renters
For Catholic families, this is a long-established French Immersion option in central Etobicoke. Catholic school eligibility and French program admission follow TCDSB rules, so confirm both with the board before you buy.
The school opened in September 1953, and the board page notes many students come from families whose parents and grandparents also attended.
Practical notes
- Address: 70 Mattice Ave, Islington, ON M9B 1T6
- Grades: JK to 8
- Board: TCDSB
- French: Early French Immersion
The five at a glance
| School | Board | Grades | Address | French model |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richview CI | TDSB | 9 to 12 | 1738 Islington Ave | Dual-track French Immersion |
| John English JMS | TDSB | JK to 8 | 95 Mimico Ave | French Immersion JK to 8 with English |
| Rosethorn JS | TDSB | JK to 5 | 2 Remington Dr | French Immersion with English |
| Melody Village JS | TDSB | JK to 8 | 520 Silverstone Dr | Full French Immersion centre |
| Our Lady of Peace CS | TCDSB | JK to 8 | 70 Mattice Ave | Early French Immersion |
What this means if you’re buying or selling in Etobicoke
French Immersion is assigned by address, not by the nearest school. The TDSB’s Early French Immersion page says placement is based on the child’s principal home address on record before the deadline, and that students may be redirected to another school with space if the local school is oversubscribed.
Timing matters. If you plan to move before September 2027 and want Early French Immersion, the TDSB notes that moving before fall may affect admission to your local school, so apply from the address you will actually live at where you can, and talk to the board if your move is mid-process.
If you missed the Junior Kindergarten window, do not assume French is closed to your child. TDSB school pages describe Grade 4 Middle French Immersion as the next entry point, so ask each school you are considering whether it offers that program.
Check the whole pathway: elementary French school, middle school and secondary site. In Etobicoke that now means knowing whether your address leads to Richview or to the newer program at Lakeshore Collegiate Institute.
Budget for the commute as well. French Immersion students may travel further than English-program classmates, and the TDSB says Grades 6 to 8 may receive TTC tickets where applicable instead of a school bus, so look at transit from the homes you are comparing.
For sellers, a confirmed French program result for your address is a strong selling point. Include it in your listing package so families who have already applied for French Immersion can see the pathway straight away.
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Frequently asked questions
When do I apply for French Immersion in Toronto for 2027?
For TDSB Early French Immersion starting September 2027, applications open November 2, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. and close November 27, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. It is for children born in 2023. Late applications are accepted until May 31, 2027 and go on a waitlist. Offers to on-time applicants begin January 4, 2027.
What grade does French Immersion start in TDSB?
The TDSB says Junior Kindergarten is the entry point for Early French Immersion. According to TDSB school pages, the next entry point is Grade 4 through the Middle French Immersion program. Applications are completed online, and an offer is for the program, not a specific school.
Which high school offers French Immersion in Etobicoke?
Richview Collegiate Institute at 1738 Islington Avenue is a dual-track school where over half of students are in French programming, according to its TDSB profile. Lakeshore Collegiate Institute at 350 Kipling Avenue has also started secondary French Immersion, listing Grades 9 and 10 for 2025/2026.
Is French Immersion the same as a French-language school?
No. French Immersion is a program in the English-language boards for students learning French. French-language schools, run by boards such as Viamonde and MonAvenir, teach the curriculum in French; Ontario says children of French-language rights holders are automatically admitted, and other families can apply through an admission committee.
Is there a Catholic French Immersion school in Etobicoke?
Yes. Our Lady of Peace Catholic School at 70 Mattice Avenue is a TCDSB Early French Immersion school serving Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8. Its first French Immersion class started in 1984. Confirm Catholic eligibility and French admission rules with the TCDSB.
Does TDSB provide busing for French Immersion?
Yes, within limits. The TDSB says students in JK to Grade 5 who live more than 1.6 km from their assigned French Immersion school get school bus transportation, rising to 3.2 km from Grade 6. Routes usually run from the home English school, not from individual addresses.
Sources
- Early French Immersion — Toronto District School Board
- Richview Collegiate Institute school profile — TDSB
- French Immersion — Lakeshore Collegiate Institute — TDSB
- John English Junior Middle School profile — TDSB
- Rosethorn Junior School profile — TDSB
- Melody Village Junior School profile — TDSB
- Our Lady of Peace Catholic School — About Us — TCDSB
- French-language education — Government of Ontario
Related reading
- Top 5 Private Schools in West Toronto & Mississauga (2026)
- Top 5 Catholic High Schools in Etobicoke (2026)
- Top 5 Schools in North Etobicoke: Rexdale and Humberwood (2026)
- Top 5 Schools in Etobicoke
About the author — Jatin Dua, Toronto and GTA real estate broker
I am Jatin Dua, Broker of Record and co-founder of RE/MAX Quantum Realty Inc., Brokerage, Unit 101, 799 The Queensway, Toronto. I work with buyers and sellers across Toronto and the GTA and have helped more than 100 families sell. Four-plus years of active GTA transactions and over $100 million in sales volume. Every figure here comes from a published table, regulator or statute linked in the sources, so you can check all of it without asking me.
Reach me at [email protected] or 833-330-1925, or book a call.