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 64 reviews)); "You meet some really great people at this organization and form relationships for the rest of your life." ((in 44 reviews)); "Strong professional development" ((in 38 reviews)); "Competitive salary depending on number of years and education Day to day truly depends on the specific school" ((in 36 reviews)); "Great coaching during live teaching and documented summary provided." ((in 29 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 73 reviews)); "Poor leadership, and low staff retention" ((in 34 reviews)); "Long hours (9 hours a day required for teachers)" ((in 23 reviews)); "Poor management." ((in 14 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 3, 2021

Be Ready to Work Hard! (Worth It)

Coordinator

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Great people to work with, incredible community of families, scholars, and network staff, feedback culture is strong, opportunities for growth and development.

Cons

Just be ready to work hard (long hours and days) for the sake of scholars. You should have a strong growth mindset - get ready for lots of feedback on your work and performance.

3.0

Mar 2, 2021

Great Charter School Network but they have a lot of work to do

Dean

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Of all of the major charter school networks, AF is by far one of the best to work for.

Cons

It is close to impossible to meet the demands

3.0

Mar 2, 2021

Strong commitment to student achievement results; Needs to prioritize whole person and DEI

Dean of students

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

(1) Data driven practices (2) Focus on results (3) Large organization that is rapidly growing

Cons

(1) Failure to prioritize DEI initiatives beyond rhetoric (2) Professional development needs differentiation to ensure all adults are growing (3) Rigid ways of thinking that contribute to status quo systems (4) Needs to shift focus to equity achieved through learning WITH students and families not directing initiatives FOR or TO them.

Viewing 496 - 498 of 999 Reviews

Jobs at Achievement First

CT Building Sub (2026-27)

RI Elementary Teacher (2026-27)

CT Elementary Teacher-Hartford (2026-27)

RI Multilingual Learners Teacher/Coordinator 2026-27

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