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 63 reviews)); "You meet some really great people at this organization and form relationships for the rest of your life." ((in 47 reviews)); "Competitive salary depending on number of years and education Day to day truly depends on the specific school" ((in 40 reviews)); "Good Professional Development" ((in 37 reviews)); "Great coaching during live teaching and documented summary provided." ((in 32 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 70 reviews)); "Misalignment from network level down to teachers and incompetent leadership at some schools/staff shortages" ((in 32 reviews)); "Long hours (9 hours a day required for teachers)" ((in 21 reviews)); "Poor management." ((in 12 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

Company ratings over time

Ratings trend for the last 6 months (999 reviews)

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

Apr 9, 2024

Good company but everything depends on who is your supervisor in your particular school

Anonymous employee

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

- people generally care about what they are doing - pay and other backend procedures are smooth

Cons

- too much depends on whether you'll find a connection with your supervisor

3.0

Apr 2, 2024

Okay

Lead teacher

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Kid centered, grow a lot as a teacher

Cons

They make you teach a certain way that is very rigid. Leadership doesn’t have much teaching experience either

4.0

Mar 28, 2024

Good place for teachers

Math teacher

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

+ Hard work, but gets easier with each year + Higher compensation relative to other schools + Other opportunities to make extra income; I made close to $100k this year from stipends + Paid summers off + Surrounded by motivated and passionate educators

Cons

+ Principal is out of touch and checked out, but deans do an incredible job + Students can be hard to manage, but they make the work fun!

Viewing 514 - 516 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)