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

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

5.0

Mar 5, 2015

Teacher

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Great staff overall and everyone is a hard worker. Kids are wonderful too

Cons

There are long hours and a steep learning curve, but it's worth it.

5.0

Feb 11, 2015

Charter school network filled with talented teachers who are extremely committed to students

Anonymous employee

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

I absolutely love the people I work with - teachers, leaders, kids, and our families. Our leaders are really dedicated to the growth and development of each of us. All the teachers embody a sense of "team and family." These people are not just my co-workers, but also friends. We are so strategic in how we approach student learning,and always make decisions that have such a positive impact on kids.

Cons

I think that sustainability in a school is a huge challenge. I have no worked for three different schools, and this is just the nature of teaching. Having a work/life balance at AF is completely possible, but it has required me to prioritize and become incredibly efficient during the work day.

5.0

Feb 10, 2015

A values-driven, mission-driven organization full of incredibly talented people who work hard to do right by all kids.

Regional director

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Achievement First is a organization that is constantly learning, reflecting and challenging itself to ensure we are delivering on the promise of an excellent education that we made to our kids and families. We have really smart, thoughtful people on the team. People are nice and value a sense of Team & Family. What I most appreciate about Achievement First is its willingness to take on the most vexing challenges, create a dialogue around them and move forward with efforts to address them.

Cons

Every organization has unique challenges and it is important for folks to know what most matters to them. Achievement First has a lot of strengths but it is working on changing the way we teach so that students are truly college ready. Our classrooms need to have students talking more and doing the thinking and that takes time to develop among teachers.

Viewing 421 - 423 of 999 Reviews

Jobs at Achievement First

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

2026-2027 (NY) Academic Dean

2026-2027 (NY) Academic Dean -Math

RI 2026-2027 Academic Dean

NY Elementary Teacher (2026-2027)