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 3.1 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 67 reviews)); "Competitive salary depending on number of years and education Day to day truly depends on the specific school" ((in 45 reviews)); "Some great people work there!" ((in 45 reviews)); "Good Professional Development" ((in 39 reviews)); "Teachers and educational staff are great" ((in 24 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 73 reviews)); "Poor leadership, and low staff retention" ((in 36 reviews)); "Long hours (9 hours a day required for teachers)" ((in 21 reviews)); "Poor management." ((in 15 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

3.1

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 3.1 out of 5 stars, based on 999 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good 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

1.0

Jul 19, 2022

Very poor teacher culture

Teacher

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Great kids and families, good pay, strong recruiting process

Cons

No work-life balance, micromanaging teachers, negative culture and morale among teachers, they say they are anti-racist but they police the bodies of Black and brown students by making them sit and participate in certain ways that feel contrary to the ideals that they tout

3.0

Jul 19, 2022

Work to be done

Dean of special services

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Strong mission, collaborative work environment, student-focused

Cons

Lack of true equity amongst staff, adult culture experience can vary from school to school.

5.0

Jul 16, 2022

Achievement First Forever

Associate teacher

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Achievement First celebrates their Students, Families and Staff… They will always be in My heart.

Cons

Covid affected all Student, Families and Staff severely.

Viewing 271 - 273 of 999 Reviews

Jobs at Achievement First

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

CT College Counselor-Hartford 2026-27

2026-2027 (NY) Academic Dean -Math

2026-2027 (NY) Academic Dean

RI Academic Paraprofessional (2026-27)