Does Achievement First pay their employees well?

According to anonymously submitted Glassdoor reviews, Achievement First employees rate their compensation and benefits as 3.1 out of 5. Find out more about salaries and benefits at Achievement First. This rating has decreased by 5% over the last 12 months.

How satisfied are employees working at Achievement First?

35% of Achievement First employees would recommend working there to a friend based on Glassdoor reviews . Employees also rated Achievement First 2.6 out of 5 for work life balance, 3.1 for culture and values and 3.1 for career opportunities.

What are the top reviewed jobs at Achievement First?

Teacher (267) , Lead Teacher (34) , Academic Dean (20) , Teacher In Residence (20) , English Teacher (18) , Student Services Manager (17) , Math Teacher (14) , Dean (13) , Dean of Students (13) , Middle School Math Teacher (12) , Special Education Teacher (12) , Middle School Teacher (9) , Director (8) , Office Coordinator (8) , Associate Director (6)

What are the pros of working at Achievement First according to real employee reviews?

"The pay was good and sustained" ((in 67 reviews)); "Competitive salary depending on number of years and education Day to day truly depends on the specific school" ((in 45 reviews)); "Some great people work there!" ((in 45 reviews)); "Good Professional Development" ((in 39 reviews)); "Teachers and educational staff are great" ((in 24 reviews))

What are the cons of working at Achievement First according to real employee reviews?

"No work life balance and a high" ((in 107 reviews)); "Long hours and overly tolerant of negative student behaviors." ((in 73 reviews)); "Poor leadership, and low staff retention" ((in 36 reviews)); "Long hours (9 hours a day required for teachers)" ((in 21 reviews)); "Poor management." ((in 15 reviews))

What are employees saying about Achievement First layoffs in 2026?

Explore Glassdoor’s employee reviews to understand what current and former employees are saying about Achievement First layoffs and their outlook for job security at Achievement First in 2026.

What are the top reviewed Achievement First locations?

Brooklyn , New York , New Haven , Providence , Hartford , Bridgeport , Bushwick , Crown Heights , Cranston , East New York , North Providence , Binghamton , Queensbury , Stanfordville , Tempe , Hamden , New Orleans , Warwick , Miami , Boston , Savannah , Grand Chute , Brooklyn , Brownsville

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Achievement First

Achievement First reviews

3.1

35% would recommend to a friend

(999 total reviews)

Fatimah Barker

39% approve of CEO

21% positive business outlook

Ratings by category

3.7

Diversity & inclusion

3.1

Culture & values

3.1

Compensation and benefits

3.1

Career opportunities

2.6

Work/Life balance

2.6

Senior management

Achievement First has an employee rating of 3.1 out of 5 stars, based on 999 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The Achievement First employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Education industry (3.7 stars).

Ratings by demographic groups

Race / Ethnicity

Gender

Sexual orientation

Disability

Parent or family caregiver

Veteran status

Reviews by job title

999 reviews

5.0

Mar 22, 2021

Amazing Experience filled with Growth

Teacher-in-residence

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

The leadership team at my school are just that: LEADERS! As a teacher-in-residence, I have learned and grown so much this year. The program is awesome because you are linked with a coach who is dedicated to your development. Workplace culture is strong; the teams row together and AF's values (e.g.: racial equity and care for whole person) are alive every day. Salary is comparable to similar positions; benefits package is satisfactory. For teachers: The curriculum materials are usually VERY well done and a ton of materials/resources are given.

Cons

I do not have any cons to share at this point!

4.0

Mar 9, 2021

Great Professional Development/Really Care for Kids

Teacher

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Partnership with Relay Graduate School allows you to earn Master’s degree almost free. The children are there to learn. Staff development is phenomenal. There are Professional Development days, summer trainings, and extensive weekly coaching. A majority of teachers/staff were truly there for the kids.

Cons

Friendships can sometimes interfere with leadership decisions. Curriculum feels outdated at times. Though they were changing that when I left. Classroom management expectations were unrealistic for our kids and some staff members abused the behavior system we had in place. Lack of support/services provided for SPED students which was disappointing as a teacher who taught students with learning disabilities.

4.0

Feb 4, 2021

Working hard for students

Associate director

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

AF has a lot of established practices and institutional knowledge about running strong schools. I learned so much while I was there.

Cons

Like any charter management organization, there were challenges with balancing the demands of how to educate students well. At times, AF's positions did not reflect my personal beliefs about equity.

Viewing 319 - 321 of 999 Reviews

Jobs at Achievement First

2026-2027 (NY) Academic Dean-History/Science

CT College Counselor-Hartford 2026-27

2026-2027 (NY) Academic Dean -Math

2026-2027 (NY) Academic Dean

RI Academic Paraprofessional (2026-27)

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Achievement First

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Ratings by category

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Reviews by job title

Amazing Experience filled with Growth

Great Professional Development/Really Care for Kids

Working hard for students

Jobs at Achievement First

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