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?

"The pay was good and sustained" ((in 69 reviews)); "You meet some really great people at this organization and form relationships for the rest of your life." ((in 44 reviews)); "Competitive salary depending on number of years and education Day to day truly depends on the specific school" ((in 39 reviews)); "Excellent professional development, especially if you are a new teacher." ((in 36 reviews)); "Furthermore, I have grown tremendously due to the coaching and support I've received." ((in 28 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 32 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

Achievement First reviews

3.0

35% would recommend to a friend

(999 total reviews)

Fatimah Barker

39% approve of CEO

21% positive business outlook

Company ratings over time

Ratings trend for the last 6 months (999 reviews)

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

Mar 17, 2018

Office Coordinator

Office coordinator

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

The network is geared toward the advancement of young people of color. The people are great to work with.

Cons

Working in education is really hard.

4.0

Dec 22, 2017

Great place to start career

High school math teacher

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

The coaching model really worked for me. I was able to take ideas that I wanted to try, talk them out with an experienced educator then implement them in my classroom. I did not know how much planning and thinking had to go into each lesson. AF gave me the skills I needed to implement high engaging, rigorous lessons for students.

Cons

The merit system was difficult to use, cumbersome in nature, and demeaning to students at times. When used with fidelity was a great tool for teachers to deter off task behaviors.

1.0

Dec 7, 2017

If you care about children, just don’t.

Anonymous employee

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

The kids are wonderful and so capable, despite this school’s methods.

Cons

Long hours, unethical practices, educational practices that hurt children, militant culture

Viewing 139 - 141 of 999 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

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