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 67 reviews)); "Great people to work with!" ((in 47 reviews)); "Competitive salary depending on number of years and education Day to day truly depends on the specific school" ((in 39 reviews)); "Good Professional Development" ((in 34 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 75 reviews)); "Misalignment from network level down to teachers and incompetent leadership at some schools/staff shortages" ((in 35 reviews)); "Long hours (9 hours a day required for teachers)" ((in 23 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

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 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 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).

Reviews by job title

999 reviews

5.0

Aug 26, 2016

you will learn a LOT

School leader

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

-I've worked for AF for almost a decade after working in the traditional public school system - I have learned so much each year I've been here...which really is what has kept me here for so long (my coach is incredible) -growth-oriented organization that is eager to improve -incredible people - I love coming to work every day -from teachers at our school, to our families, to our scholars - surrounded by such great people each day

Cons

lots of work - truly - and the curriculum (etc) has changed multiple times over the course of me working here (pre-common core, then common core, and it just finished another big change about a year ago) we are getting at working "smarter not harder" but we're not quite there yet

4.0

Aug 25, 2016

Achievement First is a Great Place to Work

Anonymous employee

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

-Very good compensation -Professional Development -Structured school settings

Cons

-Long hours -Rigorous intellectual work

5.0

Aug 24, 2016

Achievement First is the best charter school network I have worked for

Anonymous employee

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

The pros of working at Achievement First are the opportunities for professional development, the supportive "team" mentality across the school among staff, the open and honest way that adults communicate and discuss problems that exist or areas that could be better, the close and loving relationships between teachers and families, the close and loving relationships between teachers and kids, the availability of resources including books, supplies, computers etc., the cleanliness of the buildings, the salary of staff is higher than NYC Public schools and lastly the united vision about why we, as educators, are here and what brings us to this work.

Cons

One of the toughest things about working in a charter school is creating a work/life balance. This was true at the other charter schools I worked for and it is no different at Achievement First. We arrive at school around 7 am and are working with kids until around 4 or 5 pm which can be beyond exhausting. It is definitely an adjustment from a 9-5 desk job and I had to learn to make realistic choices about what I am doing after school during the week...which is usually dinner, exercise or TV and bed to be ready for the next day. Even though I work so much, the trade-off is that when I walk into the building in the morning and am with coworkers I like and kids I love, I am happy all day long so its like do I either work less at a job that I am okay with or work more at a job that I love....

Viewing 859 - 861 of 999 Reviews

Jobs at Achievement First

2026-2027 (NY) Academic Dean -Math

RI Academic Paraprofessional (2026-27)

2026-2027 (NY) Academic Dean

CT Building Sub (2026-27)

RI 2026-2027 Academic Dean