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 73 reviews)); "You meet some really great people at this organization and form relationships for the rest of your life." ((in 48 reviews)); "Competitive salary depending on number of years and education Day to day truly depends on the specific school" ((in 44 reviews)); "Good Professional Development" ((in 40 reviews)); "Great coaching during live teaching and documented summary provided." ((in 27 reviews))

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

"No work life balance and a high" ((in 106 reviews)); "Long hours and overly tolerant of negative student behaviors." ((in 75 reviews)); "Misalignment from network level down to teachers and incompetent leadership at some schools/staff shortages" ((in 35 reviews)); "Long hours (9 hours a day required for teachers)" ((in 21 reviews)); "Poor management." ((in 13 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

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 demographic groups

Race / Ethnicity

Gender

Sexual orientation

Disability

Parent or family caregiver

Veteran status

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).

Reviews by job title

999 reviews

4.0

Aug 22, 2019

Great organization, working to do better by the operations team that make the instructional work possible

Student services manager

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Passionate and very intelligent staff, mission driven, committed to continuous improvement

Cons

compensation, limited training and PD for operations staff, previously not prioritized as a team, high turnover from burnout

3.0

Apr 28, 2019

Passionate but under qualified

Teacher

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

People care a lot about the work

Cons

Many people are not qualified to do their job

3.0

Apr 24, 2019

Efficient and good for people who like structure

Teacher

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

- Structure - Curriculum Hub that provides all the lesson plans - Amazing kiddos - everything follows a system

Cons

- Structure (lack of flexibility) - Lack of diversity in leadership teams - Not focused on research based practices - Not iterative - Doesn't focus on social-emotional learning - Doesn't teach kids to advocate for themselves - Lack of creativity throughout

Viewing 340 - 342 of 999 Reviews

Jobs at Achievement First

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

2026-2027 (NY) Academic Dean -Math

2026-2027 (NY) Academic Dean

RI 2026-2027 Academic Dean

RI Academic Paraprofessional (2026-27)