Achievement First

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Closing the achievement gap is the civil rights issue of our time. From the moment students arrive at Achievement First schools, they are held to high expectations built around the belief that they can and will achieve academic success.

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All Achievement First students know they can and will go to college.

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The culture at our schools is one of rigor and joy—you can sense the urgency and energy when you enter an Achievement First school. Our lessons are geared to engage students and foster a lifelong love of learning.

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Achievement First schools emphasize the REACH values—Respect, Enthusiasm, Achievement, Citizenship and Hard Work.

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At Achievement First, we believe all children can succeed when presented with the right educational opportunities. Across the Achievement First network, our students—low-income, African-American and Latino students—are outpacing their state and district peers.

For the third consecutive year in as many graduating classes, 100 percent of seniors have gained acceptance to four-year colleges and universities.

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We work hard every day to close the achievement gap and deliver on the promise of equal educational opportunity for all children, regardless of race, economic status or zip code. Our first priority is to provide a truly outstanding, gap-closing education to our thousands of students.

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We believe a great education can level the playing field, break the cycle of poverty and create a brighter future for all of us.

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Achievement First is proud to serve special education students, English Language Learners, talented and gifted students, and all other students accepted through our blind lotteries. We don’t have admission requirements or interviews, and there are no admission or tuition fees.

Students, teachers and parents work as a team to achieve success.

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At Achievement First, we help individual students, entire schools and partner districts close the achievement gap. We are committed to engaging volunteer tutors, increasing public awareness, and advocating for public policies that would support education reform and the expansion of high-quality school choices.

We host hundreds of visitors—including community members, elected officials and educators—in our schools each year.

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People matter mightily at Achievement First. We spare no effort to recruit the best teachers, school leaders, subject-area and functional experts, and operations specialists from around the country, provide them with outstanding professional development, and create opportunities that will inspire and support them in their careers.

We develop, recognize and reward teachers through constant professional development and the Teacher Career Pathway.

The Achievement First Approach: Core Values

Achievement First lives by its core values, which inform and guide us in all aspects of what we do—from the classroom to the Network Support office—and help us create a positive, achievement-oriented school culture.

No excuses

Achievement First sets ambitious, clearly measurable goals to provide all students with an outstanding education. If we fall short of these goals, we are willing to change the way we do things in order to achieve excellence for our students.

People matter, mightily

The number one factor impacting student achievement is teacher quality. We aggressively recruit talent and heavily invest in our people so that they can make a real difference in the lives of our students.

Excellence is a habit

We relentlessly pursue excellence and never settle for "so-so" from students or team members.

Sweat the small stuff

We believe that details are the difference between mediocre and magnificent.

Team and family

This work is a team sport; everyone shares in Achievement First's successes while celebrating the unique strengths and differences of each person and school.

First things first

The needs of our students always come first.

Whatever it takes

Achievement First goes the extra mile to make a difference in the life of every student.

Many minds, one mission

Together with parents, partners and supporters, Achievement First works to improve the communities in which we work.

Everything with integrity

The REACH values (Respect, Enthusiasm, Achievement, Citizenship and Hard Work) drive the words and actions of all members of the Achievement First team.