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 69 reviews)); "Some great people work there!" ((in 47 reviews)); "Competitive salary depending on number of years and education Day to day truly depends on the specific school" ((in 42 reviews)); "Good Professional Development" ((in 35 reviews)); "Great coaching during live teaching and documented summary provided." ((in 26 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 74 reviews)); "Misalignment from network level down to teachers and incompetent leadership at some schools/staff shortages" ((in 34 reviews)); "Long hours (9 hours a day required for teachers)" ((in 22 reviews)); "Long days and school year." ((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

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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

3.0

May 14, 2015

Structured/Exhausting

Anonymous employee

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

-Great professional development -Clear expectations for students and teachers

Cons

-Low work-life balance -High turnover rate of teachers -Strick discipline system for kids

5.0

May 6, 2015

Great Place to work

Anonymous employee

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

I have worked at Achievement First for the past 3 years on our network support team. I love the environment, the organizational culture, and most of all the people that I work with. AF is a fantastic place to work.

Cons

Work life balance can be challenging at first, but I worked with my individual coach/manager to set goals around personal priorities outside of work. I have become much better at creating those boundaries and my work life balance has improved each year at Achievement First.

4.0

Mar 14, 2015

A teacher

Anonymous employee

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

I enjoy my time a lot great staff and students. This makes up for long hours. The school has mentors to help improve teaching.

Cons

Hard to balance work life with personal life. Sometimes the kids get out of hand but are overall good.

Viewing 418 - 420 of 999 Reviews

Jobs at Achievement First

RI 2026-2027 Academic Dean

2026-2027 (NY) Academic Dean -Math

2026-2027 (NY) Academic Dean

RI Academic Paraprofessional (2026-27)

RI Middle School History Teacher (2026-27)

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Structured/Exhausting

Great Place to work

A teacher

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