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Little River Elementary School

South Riding, VA 20152

Phone: (703) 957-4360
District: Loudoun County Public Schools

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GreatSchools Rating

public • Grades PK,KG,1,2,3,4,5 • 701 students

Little River Elementary School, a public school located in South Riding, VA, serves grades PK-5 in the Loudoun County Public Schools.It has received a GreatSchools Rating of 9 out of 10, based on a variety of school quality measures.

Little River Elementary School is a public school located in South Riding, VA. 701 students attend Little River Elementary School.

School Ratings

Category	Rating	Details
Test Scores	8/10	The Test Score Rating examines how students at this school performed on standardized tests compared with other schools in the state. The Test Rating was created using 2025 Virginia Standards of Learning data from Virginia Department of Education, and using 2025 Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) End-of-Course data from Virginia Department of Education.
Student Growth	9/10	The Student Progress Rating measures whether students at this school are making academic progress over time based on student growth data provided by the Department of Education. Specifically, this rating looks at how much progress individual students have made on state assessments during the past year or more, how this performance aligns with expected progress based on a student growth model established by the state Department of Education, and how this school's growth data compares to other schools in the state. The Growth Rating was created using 2025 Student growth data from Virginia Department of Education.

Posted: April 27, 2026

Weve called Little River home for about 5 years now and we love the support of the staff and administration. Each of our childrens teachers have loved them and pushed them to grow and solidify their love of learning even when things have been tough.

Posted: April 27, 2026

Posted: May 28, 2023

LRE is a wonderful school Overall, That exceeds our expectations in every aspect. It provides an exceptional educational foundation, a nurturing environment, engaging programs, safety, and a strong community partnership. I wholeheartedly recommend this school to any parent seeking an outstanding elementary education for their child.

Posted: May 28, 2023

Posted: April 3, 2023

What a wonderful schoo, with caring and nurturing staff and teachers. The school has a great system of helping the little ones grow to be helpful leaders. Its a great community and it shows in how happy the kids are. The staff appear to be happy and energetic, and its contagious.

Posted: April 3, 2023

Posted: October 27, 2021

I have read some of the other reviewers and wonder what school they went to!? We LOVE this school! Our children have flourished here, one with special needs. The teachers and staff have made both of my children feel welcomed, supported, and both have learned and progressed even when facing difficulties. The administration is great and the teachers seem to love them, that's important! Walking to school most teachers call my children by name, with a face mask ON! That right there says so much about this school environment!

Posted: October 27, 2021

Posted: June 22, 2018

My son attended Kindergarten so no homework was required.

Posted: June 22, 2018

This was our 3rd year in Loudoun County Schools and our 3rd School. By far the worst teacher experience. Little to no communication from teacher. Teacher constantly had volunteers (her favorite parents) in the classroom.

Posted: June 22, 2018

We found out 2 months before the school year was out our son was sitting at a lunch table with the children with food allergies the entire year. My son does not have any food allergies. We found out at a classmates Birthday Party when the parent asked us what food our child was allergic too. We were obviously confused and reached out to the Principal and Teacher and were informed the teacher made the decision to keep him away from the mean kids.

Posted: June 22, 2018

My son was in Kindergarten and was bullied at least 2 times. One we got a call about one. The other time we found out from our son. We had to follow up with the school to see what precautions were going to be taken after they told us about him being struck for no reason during reading time. They were supposed to follow up but in their words got busy.

Posted: June 22, 2018

The worst experience we have had and this was our 3rd school in Loudoun County. So thankful this isnt our home school and our son wont have to step foot in this school ever again.

Posted: May 22, 2018

I have 2 boys at LRES. They have very different learning styles and have been each been offered individualized learning paths. The teachers are nurturing and engaging. The leadership is accessible and innovative.

Posted: May 22, 2018

Homework is minimal and focused on encouraging consistent reading. I worry about the transition to middle school - the teachers do help with study habits.

Posted: May 22, 2018

The teachers are Amazing. The support staff and resource teachers are helpful and engaging.

Posted: May 22, 2018

Posted: May 14, 2018

5/5 -- we have two children currently at the school who are polar opposites in terms of personality and strengths. The teachers have found effective ways to challenge and nurture each of them.

Posted: May 14, 2018

Many of the grades now do project-based learning vs homework

Posted: May 14, 2018

Many of the teachers actually left be in the community which helps to foster strong bonds

Posted: May 14, 2018

The Eagle Feathers program teachers kids about Respect and Responsibility.

Posted: May 14, 2018

Mr. Murphy is an outstanding principal who is extremely active and engaged with parents and stadf

Posted: May 14, 2018

Posted: January 22, 2018

This school is by far the worst run in the south Riding area, of all the elementary schools in the area, they have the most disinterested teachers and rude, unfriendly administrators. The principal actually tries to make it s good environment, however, the staff and admistrators need some teaching on how to be better at their jobs and be more respectful and willing to help others. Very sad in an area like this to have such a staff of administrators. Feel sorry for the kids at this school.

Posted: January 22, 2018

Posted: January 21, 2018

I feel that the teachers, specialists, and Administration are all effective in educating and guiding our children.

Posted: January 21, 2018

Posted: November 15, 2017

My son was at this school for a few months before he was transferred out to a different school. At little river they don't meet the needs of children with special needs, they push them to the side and act as if they're babysitting. They don't try to help the child at all, very disappointed with this school.

Posted: March 14, 2016

I have had 2 students go through Little River and we have been very pleased. There are several outstanding teachers as well as a solid administrative staff that encourages parental involvement in the right way. The guidance counselors have been there to encourage and support healthy patterns of behavior. Overall, I would say the school fosters an environment of learning and really prepares the children to take the next step.

Posted: April 28, 2015

I have had one child go through Little River and one still there. I am very lucky that they have been able to call Little River their home. The teachers, the staff, and the current administration are a well-oiled machine to make the school top notch!

Posted: April 26, 2014

Fabulous creative, caring and energetic teachers. Love the NEW principal and vice principal: Ms. Gross and Mr. Murphy make an excellent team!!!

Posted: April 8, 2013

LR is an amazing school!. I'm the mother of 2 children. My oldest started kindergarten in 2006 (Mrs. Hardcastle's first year at LR) and spent all 6 years there before heading to middle school last fall. My youngest is in 4th grade. I also spent a decade teaching elementary school in Fairfax County. The majority of my children's teachers have been kind, enthusiastic, knowledgeable and dedicated. Did some teachers leave after Mrs. Hardcastle arrived? Yes, but that is always the case when there is a transition in administration. However, 7 years later, MANY great teachers remain. Have we ever had a bad teacher? Yes, but those are present in EVERY school (and nearly impossible to fire) and Mrs. Hardcastle is very concerned about the happiness and success of each student and works with parents to resolve problems. My experience with her regarding my own children has been only positive. I disagree that the children are bored. Loudoun County has a wonderful gifted program and mine have been challenged in the classroom daily. On any given day, you will see many parent volunteers. The specialists (especially the counselors, art, music and PE teachers) are absolutely fantastic!

Posted: November 3, 2012

Hardcastle has ruined this school. The teachers are forced only to instruct to the VA SOLs and the children are completely bored. There is no energy in the classrooms as there used to be under the previous principals prior to the Fall of 2006 (when the current principal arrived). Now Loudoun County has started a new 4 point grading system and, of course, Hardcastle has no idea how to properly implement it. There is no consistency between teachers with grading and the leader of the school has not provided proper guidance to them. Many teachers at the school do not like the principal and so many good teachers that were hired under the previous principals, Reedy, left to teach at other schools after becoming frustrated with Hardcastle's style. Further, she does not encourage parent involvement in their children's educational decisions and makes parents feel unwelcome when they offer suggestions. Finally, there are way too many under utilized "Specials" teachers at this school that could be better served at schools where their services are really needed.

Posted: October 24, 2012

Little River was a wonderful school with very high SOL scores and teachers under the previous principals but that has all changed the last several years. The current principal is simply horrible. She will not listen to parents' suggestions or concerns and there literally is no leadership at the school. Under the previous administration, the teachers were phenomenal and there was great energy in the school. Since this principal took over in 2006, all the good teachers have literally left the school (with the exception of a handful) and Hardcastle has hired mediocre teachers. Due to her lack of leadership, the teachers are allowed to do whatever they please and this has lowered the overall quality of the entire education at Little River. For example, she insists on using math investigations in her classrooms to compensate for lower state test scores and anyone who's done research on this teaching method knows it is subpar. It's really sad to see such a great school turn into such a fiasco. If a good education is important to you, don't send your children to this school. Many of our friends have sent their children to private schools instead.

Posted: October 27, 2011

We have two children in this school and we are pleased with the quality of the teachers and the education. Our oldest child is sufficiently challenged by new concepts and our youngest child received additional help when we feared he was falling behind. The teachers have different styles and personalities that are recognized by the administrators and addressed in a meaningful way. For example, our youngest child was placed with a teacher that the administrators, previous year's teacher, and counselors felt would work best with his quirks. I'm impressed.

Posted: September 24, 2010

Our school has such a great sense of community, and our teachers and staff are the best!