223 Smith Dr
Durham, NC 27712

We have two daughters who attend Little River. One is receiving speech services there (and has since she became eligible at 3). We looked at all of the different school options before starting there and actually got into one of the magnet schools. However, we decided to stay with our "neighborhood school," and we are so glad we did. Our experience has been extremely positive, from the quality of staff and teachers to logistics and communication. We also wanted an environment that brought together all different kinds of students and families, and Little River really does. Our girls are very different and each one is being well served academically and both are definitely being cared for -- it is truly a supportive and caring environment. The assistant principal and his daughter even started a fun and thoughtful Youtube show to keep the students engaged during the pandemic (and we are so happy it is continuing). The staff and teachers always seem to go above and beyond their call of duty. We feel that there are many great options in DPS, and Little River is definitely one of them!

The Math and English departments were disappointing during my time there. Teachers often focused more on building friendships with students rather than prioritizing vital learning, which left many of us unprepared. Administration seemed to prioritize students who skipped frequently and the so-called “good” kids, while those who fell in the middle often went overlooked. Around 75% of the time, I either had nothing to do or was listening to teachers talk about their hobbies instead of teaching.On a positive note, Counselor Nix was impeccable and always supportive. I didn’t interact much with the other counselors, so I can’t give reviews on them. Overall, if you can, I’d recommend you send your child to a school that can actually teach your child proper study methods. Alum ‘24

Used to be a student here, it was insane. Other schools called it the “warzone” it was that bad. Constant fights, constant harassment in every form. Teachers and staff did there best to help but most things were not preventable. My teachers helped me stay focused and in school from all the trauma that was happening. They were the reason I stayed