Love is powerful, and we love our students. But it isn’t enough.

We also have to challenge them, work hard for them, fight for them relentlessly, and believe that all kids are capable of greatness. That is what we do here at Achievement First.

From the very beginning, we set out to equip our students to achieve at the highest levels. This goes for both their short-term achievement scores and, more importantly, long-term life outcomes like college graduation or life happiness. Our students have big goals. It is our job to help ensure they achieve them.

We make this happen through our strong academics and a focus on college readiness, and through our passionate educators who go above and beyond in their commitment to fostering a love of learning inside and outside of the classroom. Here is how we do it.

We develop great teachers and leaders.

This is the number one way we deliver on our promise to students. Our principals participate in a two-year residency before leading a school. Our new teachers receive intensive summer professional development to be ready on day one of instruction. Every teacher and leader has a coach who provides individualized feedback and support (and we have some of the lowest coach-to-teacher ratios around).

We join forces on everything we do to be our best for kids.

We have selected the best curriculum that prepares students for college readiness. Our name says it: we are focused on outstanding student achievement.

All curriculum is based on internationally benchmarked Common Core standards, geared to true college readiness, and has undergone extensive review for rigor and effectiveness. We have implemented a strong curriculum designed to help all students excel. Our teachers regularly analyze student data to drive our daily instruction and long-term planning. For instance, the average AF high school student will take five Advanced Placement classes before they graduate, including a math AP and a science AP.

Our students spend more time learning.

Our scholars benefit from an extended day with additional academic time without any impact on the amount of time spent on enrichment courses and physical education. Achievement First students also have a longer school year than the average traditional public school. A recent report by Stanford’s Center for Research on Education Outcomes showed that our students’ learning is accelerated — their English and math performance was so strong, it was as if they had received more than 57 additional days of instruction in English and more than 120 days in math!

We build strong school cultures.

Our schools are based on high expectations, warm and demanding instruction, and joy. We work to create schools where all students know they are loved, and all students love learning. We are committed to building classrooms in which students are seen and valued for their identities and experiences. This is palpable in the exhilarating classroom debates, the moving Morning Circles, and in all of the ways our students celebrate their accomplishments and each other.

We ensure students are college-ready, no matter the path they choose.

When our students are still in high school, they take daily classes with our college readiness teachers. They do this because they are preparing for the non-academic challenges of college as diligently as they study academic subjects. And after the end of high school? AF provides our alumni with career and finance counseling throughout every step of their college experience. We also stay in touch with our alumni and leverage their post-AF insights to continuously improve college and life preparation for younger students.