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 69 reviews)); "You meet some really great people at this organization and form relationships for the rest of your life." ((in 48 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 37 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 104 reviews)); "Long hours and overly tolerant of negative student behaviors." ((in 77 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 20 reviews)); "Poor management." ((in 14 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

(998 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 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).

Ratings by demographic groups

Race / Ethnicity

Gender

Sexual orientation

Disability

Parent or family caregiver

Veteran status

Reviews by job title

998 reviews

2.0

Jun 30, 2012

Not for the experienced teacher

Teacher

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Clear and progressive model for teacher evaluation, small class sizes, adequate resources, stong data systems, lot of professional development.

Cons

Never ending demands with little regard for personal obligations, high turnover of staff due to burnout and dissatisfaction, unclear job expectations, exclusive literacy focus leaves other subjects neglected, unyielding carrot and stick discipline system.

5.0

Jun 4, 2012

Value-driven, sees strengths in individuals

Student services manager

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

- annual 360 review by all peers -semi annual performance review with team members - network wide annual professional development event - takes soft skills into account in performance - very humane: life flexible, family friendly - strong relationship with TFA, very low teacher turn over at most schools

Cons

- internal development is still evolving which can lead to lots of change and readjustment depending on location in company (new programs being rolled out, tweaking job descriptions, etc) - which can be a pro or con depending on your preference - Career paths still being carved out (but very actively being worked on) - still establishing promotion ladders within each part of the organization

2.0

May 5, 2012

Looks can be deceiving

Anonymous employee

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

The children. Most coworkers. The mission.

Cons

Incredibly long work hours - 70-80 work weeks, and they will make you feel that you do not work hard enough. Cronyism will get you promoted or held back - there is little room for dissent or alternatives. Children who don't fit the mould have a very difficult time. Concern is for test scores rather than what the children may actually need most.

Viewing 994 - 996 of 998 Reviews

Jobs at Achievement First

2026-2027 (NY) Academic Dean -Math

2026-2027 (NY) Academic Dean

RI Academic Paraprofessional (2026-27)

RI 2026-2027 Academic Dean

CT Building Sub (2026-27)

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Achievement First

Achievement First reviews

Ratings by category

Ratings by demographic groups

Reviews by job title

Not for the experienced teacher

Value-driven, sees strengths in individuals

Looks can be deceiving

Jobs at Achievement First

Achievement First reviews FAQs

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