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

4.0

Mar 6, 2020

Great place to start your teaching career

Lead teacher

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Lots of professional development, good opportunity for growth

Cons

Long hours, demanding, no work life balance

4.0

Mar 4, 2020

Challenging but wonderful place to work

Middle school special education teacher

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

*Supportive, dedicated staff who are always willing to help with questions *Wonderful kids to work with who make the job all worth it *Rigorous academic program-ability to see students succeed *Clear expectations for students *Excellent Pay *Room for growth *Great first teaching job

Cons

*Hours=7:00-4:30 can be a LONG day for students and teachers alike *At first when starting all the behavioral/computer/grading/payroll systems can be overwhelming *If you are not motivated and a self starter this might not be the job for you- a lot of figuring it out on the fly, willing to make mistakes when first starting, asking for clarification

5.0

Feb 16, 2020

Great job

Anonymous employee

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Great pay for anyone. Working

Cons

There are no cons for me

Viewing 868 - 870 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)

CT College Counselor-Hartford 2026-27