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Frequently Asked Questions

January 30, 2026

Does Winnipeg School Division still offer Nursery?

Most schools offer a no-fee, half-day nursery program for children who live in the division. Ecole J.B. Mitchell School does not offer Nursery. Nursery is optional, and students must be four years old on or before December 31 of the current school year. 

At what age can my child register for Kindergarten?

Your child must be five years old on or before December 31 of the current school year. 

Can I select a time preference for a.m. or p.m. Nursery or Kindergarten?

There is no option to select a.m. or p.m. Nursery and/or Kindergarten on the registration form because not all WSD schools have sufficient enrollment to offer both a.m. and p.m. classes. The school's office will follow up with families to ask for your preference. Follow-ups will be conducted in the order in which registrations were received. 

Why should my child attend their designated catchment school?

Attending a designated catchment school is beneficial because:

  • Children can walk or bike to school and stay with neighbourhood peers.
  • It supports small class sizes for better learning environments. 
  • It ensures all WSD schools maintain healthy programs and diverse offerings.
  • It avoids extra expenses and resource strain. 
  • Schools receive funding based on their catchment area.

How are Schools of Choice applications reviewed?

Schools of Choice applications are reviewed by the Superintendents Department. Decisions take into account a school’s population, available staff resources, and other relevant factors. A Schools of Choice application does not guarantee your child's enrollment at the school. According to provincial guidelines, students are accepted in the following order of priority: catchment area students, within-division students, and non-resident students.

How are families informed if a Schools of Choice application is accepted or denied?

Once you have submitted your School of Choice application, a member of the Superintendents' Department will review it. Submitting an application for Schools of Choice does not guarantee your child will be enrolled at the school. The division will contact you to let you know if your child is enrolled. 

For 2026/27, WSD is not accepting Schools of Choice applications for the following schools (special family circumstances may be considered):
École Secondaire Sisler High School
École Secondaire Kevlin High School
École River Heights School
École Lansdowne School
École Waterford Springs School
Brock Corydon School (English program)
Fort Rouge School

Does WSD aid newcomer families during the registration process?

Yes. An interpreter can be requested from WSD’s Newcomer Services program to assist families during the registration process free of charge.

Can my child take the school bus?

Students in Kindergarten to Grade 6 who attend their designated catchment school and live more than 1.6 km away are eligible for transportation. Nursery students who attend a French Milieu school, and Niji Mahkwa and Isaac Brock for Indigenous language programs, and live over 1.6 km away, are eligible for transportation. Requests for transportation must be made at the school where the child is registered. Students must be registered first before requesting transportation. Transportation is not provided for students in Grade 7 or higher.

What vocational programming is available to all Senior Years students?

The division has two vocational Senior Years schools:

What Big Picture Learning schools are available to all Senior Years students?

The division has two high schools based on Big Picture Learning principles and project-based learning:

What language programs (other than French) are available to all Early and Middle Years students?

WSD offers language programs at:

What enriched academic programs are available to all Middle and Senior Years students?

WSD offers enriched academic programming at:

What enriched athletic programs are available to all Middle and Senior Years students?

Are entrance exams or tryouts required to join an enriched academic or athletic program?

No, entrance exams or tryouts are not required. All learners are welcome to register for the program of their choice, including French Immersion, Vocational, International Baccalaureate (IB), Advanced Placement (AP), and other language and athletic programs. Families are encouraged to review the program's expectations before enrolling.


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