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 3.0 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 69 reviews)); "You meet some really great people at this organization and form relationships for the rest of your life." ((in 46 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)); "Teachers and educational staff are great" ((in 25 reviews))

What are the cons of working at Achievement First according to real employee reviews?

"No work life balance and a high" ((in 103 reviews)); "Long hours and overly tolerant of negative student behaviors." ((in 78 reviews)); "Misalignment from network level down to teachers and incompetent leadership at some schools/staff shortages" ((in 36 reviews)); "Long hours (9 hours a day required for teachers)" ((in 19 reviews)); "Poor management." ((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

3.0

35% would recommend to a friend

(999 total reviews)

Fatimah Barker

39% approve of CEO

21% positive business outlook

Ratings by category

3.8

Diversity & inclusion

3.1

Culture & values

3.1

Compensation and benefits

3.0

Career opportunities

2.6

Work/Life balance

2.5

Senior management

Achievement First has an employee rating of 3.0 out of 5 stars, based on 999 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).

Ratings by demographic groups

Race / Ethnicity

Gender

Sexual orientation

Disability

Parent or family caregiver

Veteran status

Reviews by job title

999 reviews

3.0

Apr 19, 2021

Too much and not allowed to disagree

Middle school math teacher

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

People, pay is pretty decent

Cons

Too time consuming Not allowed to disagree with upper management when it comes to certain things Cant teach how you want, have to follow what they tell you to do

3.0

Apr 14, 2021

Great Teammates, Questionable Systems

Elementary teacher

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Great place to meet young working professionals who recently got their footing in the world of education or came straight from college. Teammates are always supportive and become your closest friends and allies.

Cons

Unrealistic expectations, long work hours, workload and compensation do not align, micromanaging on all levels from all departments

4.0

Apr 14, 2021

AF Review

Teacher

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

- Strong sense of community among teachers - Support from leadership team (desire to better understand the experience of teachers) - Partnership with Relay allows for a strong combination of academic and in-person learning as a new teacher.

Cons

- Lack of flexibility/opportunity to provide feedback on curriculum. - Lack of formal coaching opportunities for TIR's from deans and other members of leadership.

Viewing 766 - 768 of 999 Reviews

Jobs at Achievement First

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

CT College Counselor-Hartford 2026-27

2026-2027 (NY) Academic Dean -Math

2026-2027 (NY) Academic Dean

RI Academic Paraprofessional (2026-27)

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Too much and not allowed to disagree

Great Teammates, Questionable Systems

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