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 4% 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 3.0 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?

"Pay is good and beneficial" ((in 66 reviews)); "You meet some really great people at this organization and form relationships for the rest of your life." ((in 43 reviews)); "Competitive salary depending on number of years and education Day to day truly depends on the specific school" ((in 41 reviews)); "Good Professional Development" ((in 32 reviews)); "Great coaching during live teaching and documented summary provided." ((in 30 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 72 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)); "Poor management." ((in 15 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

3.0

35% would recommend to a friend

(998 total reviews)

Fatimah Barker

39% approve of CEO

21% positive business outlook

Company ratings over time

Ratings trend for the last 6 months (998 reviews)

Ratings by demographic groups

Race / Ethnicity

Gender

Sexual orientation

Disability

Parent or family caregiver

Veteran status

Achievement First has an employee rating of 3.0 out of 5 stars, based on 998 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have an average 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

998 reviews

2.0

Jul 3, 2019

Good intentions, not great execution

Teacher

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

I truly believe everyone at AF is there for the children first and foremost. My school could feel like a family at times. Compensation is above market average, especially for newer teachers. Kids are fantastic. Many professional development opportunities.

Cons

There is no work/life balance. If you try to take the space for your own life, you are not seen as a team player. While many teachers here are great, many are catty, and a cliquish, gossipy vibe hits you from many directions. The principal would inconsistently call people out for being late, missing deadlines, etc. I know it's hard to be consistent with that kind of thing, but it's a punch to morale if you get called out and someone else doesn't.

1.0

Jul 2, 2019

Difficult system for thriving

Art teacher

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

High pay Massively Supportive co workers

Cons

System is too oppressive for the student Physically unsafe Most teachers are traumatized as well as students due to oppressive expectations, weirdly fake way of teaching and some violence

2.0

Jun 4, 2019

This job isn't for everyone

Teacher in residence

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Getting to work with diverse children Good for someone straight out of college or a substitute teacher looking for full time stability.

Cons

No work life balance You are told you are in training to become a teacher, but all you really are is a full-time sub There will be days you are mandated to work for 12 hours, but only paid for 9 hours. Very little support from leadership Everyone is fairly young so it will feel like you are in a high school when it comes to adult culture. Not much support or understanding of your role. Little support from leadership, you are constantly treated like a child. A lot of the practices that are used are to control the kids, which made me uncomfortable for black and brown children

Viewing 52 - 54 of 998 Reviews

Jobs at Achievement First

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