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 72 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 43 reviews)); "Good Professional Development" ((in 36 reviews)); "Great coaching during live teaching and documented summary provided." ((in 27 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 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)); "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

4.0

Apr 25, 2017

Positive Culture

Teacher

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

AF has an extremely positive culture to work in. Both teachers and students are highly appreciated and the entire school embodies a growth mindset with a coaching system that allows all staff to grow. This June will mark the end of my first year at AF and I feel I have made the equivalent of at least two years of growth in my first year here.

Cons

The hours are long and demanding. Teachers who are by themselves in the classroom are expected to do just as much as teachers in a co-teaching environment, and this can at times be difficult. Due to the rigorous schedule, scholars do not always have time to ask questions about the content.

5.0

Apr 22, 2017

Overall Great Experience

Anonymous employee

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

They are really working to find work/life balance for teachers which makes me excited about the future direction of the network.

Cons

The hours can definitely be long, and the work can be exhausting, but the team is always supportive.

5.0

Apr 22, 2017

AF is the school for me

4th grade teacher

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

I'm just finishing up my 3rd year at AF as a literature teacher and grade level chair and have signed on for my 4th. After working in a couple of different elementary schools, AF is unlike any other. I love working with our scholars who truly enjoy learning and are eager to participate in the classroom. I am someone who likes to work my best, learn, and always improve instruction, so it's very beneficial to have a leadership team that always pushes teachers to be their best and coaches them. There is a high level of support at my school and as a teacher I always feel valued and appreciated, whether it's through a note from my principal or coach or a surprise lunch day. My school has done a lot of work to help teachers grow in their roles and works with them to make sure the job is meeting their personal goals.

Cons

Working for AF requires a lot of work and a lot of time. Often times there are moments when a lot of things need to get done at once with quick turn-around times (grading Interim assessments with report card grades due the same week). The work is very manageable as long as you have strong time management and are able to prioritize top tasks. Sustainability is something the network and schools are committed to working on, but until then the amount of teachers that leave each year makes it challenging for teams to stay strong;

Viewing 799 - 801 of 999 Reviews

Jobs at Achievement First

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

CT College Counselor-Hartford 2026-27

RI Middle School History Teacher (2026-27)

RI 2026-2027 Academic Dean

2026-2027 (NY) Academic Dean -Math

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