SD43 French Immersion and Mandarin: Applications Open January 7 to 13, 2027

If your child starts Kindergarten in September 2027, mark your calendar. School District 43 (Coquitlam, Port Moody, Port Coquitlam) opens applications for its Programs of Choice from January 7 to 13, 2027. That includes French Immersion, the Mandarin Bilingual Program at Walton Elementary, and Montessori.

As a Tri-Cities realtor and a French immersion mom, I get this question all the time: "Do we need to buy in the catchment to get in?" Usually, no. Spots go by random draw, not by address. Siblings already in the program get priority. And if your child is placed, you don't need a separate cross-catchment application.

A few quick tips

• You can apply to up to three programs in one application.

• Kindergarten is the main entry point. Grade 6 is a late entry point for French Immersion and Montessori.

• You don't need to speak Mandarin at home for the Mandarin program. Most students don't.

• Apply on time. Students who aren't placed go on a waitlist in draw order.

Thinking about moving too?

My advice: buy a home your family loves, in an area that works for your daily life, and treat the program as a bonus. Living close helps with drop-off and friendships, but it isn't a guarantee. One of my College Park neighbours lives outside the Walton catchment, applied anyway, and her son got a Mandarin spot.

I wrote a full guide on how it works, with the Mandarin path from Walton to Scott Creek Middle and Gleneagle Secondary: Do you need to buy in the catchment for French immersion or Mandarin?

Rules and dates can change, so always confirm on the SD43 Programs of Choice page before you apply.

Questions about schools and neighbourhoods? Call or text me at 778.953.6597, or book a coffee chat. I'm happy to help in English or Thai.

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