Achievement First

Achievement First

Tax ID no.	65-1203744[1]
Headquarters	New Haven, Connecticut
Services	Charter school management
Website	www.achievementfirst.org
34 schools (2017)

Achievement First is a charter school network in the United States. Achievement First operates schools in Connecticut (beginning with Amistad Academy in New Haven in 1999 along with other schools in New Haven, Bridgeport and Hartford), New York City (beginning in 2005 with schools in Brownsville, Bushwick, Crown Heights and East New York) and Rhode Island.

Achievement First was one of the charter school organizations helping to establish Relay School for Education (formerly CUNY's Teacher U).[2][3]

Achievement First runs 41 schools that serve approximately 12,500 students.[4]

List of Schools

Achievement First has 11 schools in Connecticut, 24 schools in New York, and 7 in Rhode Island.

AF Schools in Connecticut

State	City	Grade Level	Name
CT	Bridgeport	Elementary	Achievement First Bridgeport Academy Elementary School
CT	Bridgeport	Middle	Achievement First Bridgeport Academy Middle School
CT	Hartford	Elementary	Achievement First Hartford Academy Elementary School
CT	Hartford	Middle	Achievement First Hartford Academy Middle School
CT	Hartford	Middle	Achievement First Summit Middle School
CT	Hartford	High	Achievement First Hartford High School
CT	New Haven	Elementary	Amistad Academy Elementary School
CT	New Haven	Elementary	Elm City College Preparatory Elementary School
CT	New Haven	Middle	Amistad Academy Middle School
CT	New Haven	Middle	Elm City College Preparatory Middle School
CT	New Haven	High	Achievement First Amistad High School

AF Schools in New York

State	City	Type	Name
NY	Brooklyn	Elementary	Achievement First Apollo Elementary School
NY	Brooklyn	Elementary	Achievement First Aspire Elementary School
NY	Brooklyn	Elementary	Achievement First Brownsville Elementary School
NY	Brooklyn	Elementary	Achievement First Bushwick Elementary School
NY	Brooklyn	Elementary	Achievement First Crown Heights Elementary School
NY	Brooklyn	Elementary	Achievement First East New York Elementary School
NY	Brooklyn	Elementary	Achievement First Endeavor Elementary School
NY	Brooklyn	Elementary	Achievement First Linden Elementary School
NY	Brooklyn	Elementary	Achievement First North Brooklyn Prep Elementary School
NY	Brooklyn	Middle	Achievement First Apollo Middle School
NY	Brooklyn	Middle	Achievement First Aspire Middle School
NY	Brooklyn	Middle	Achievement First Brownsville Middle School
NY	Brooklyn	Middle	Achievement First Bushwick Middle School
NY	Brooklyn	Middle	Achievement First Crown Heights Middle School
NY	Brooklyn	Middle	Achievement First East New York Middle School
NY	Brooklyn	Middle	Achievement First Endeavor Middle School
NY	Brooklyn	Middle	Achievement First Linden Middle School
NY	Brooklyn	Middle	Achievement First North Brooklyn Prep Middle School
NY	Brooklyn	Middle	Achievement First Voyager Middle School
NY	Brooklyn	High	Achievement First Brooklyn High School
NY	Brooklyn	High	Achievement First East Brooklyn High School
NY	Brooklyn	High	Achievement First Ujima High School
NY	Brooklyn	High	Achievement First University Prep High School
NY	Queens	Elementary	Achievement First Legacy Elementary School

AF Schools in Rhode Island

State	City	Type	Name
RI	Cranston	Elementary	Achievement First Iluminar Mayoral Academy Elementary School
RI	Providence	Elementary	Achievement First Providence Mayoral Academy Elementary School
RI	Providence	Middle	Achievement First Providence Mayoral Academy Middle School
RI	Cranston	Middle	Achievement First Iluminar Mayoral Academy Middle School
RI	Providence	Elementary	Achievement First Promesa Mayoral Academy Elementary School
RI	Providence	Elementary	Achievement First Envision Elementary
RI	Providence	High	Achievement First Providence High School

Special Education Lawsuit

In 2015, five special education students at Achievement First Crown Heights (in Brooklyn) sued the school because (as a New York Times article paraphrased the lawsuits) they "did not get mandated services and were punished for behavior that arose from their disabilities."[5] According to the New York Times, Achievement First responded that “We serve a substantial number of students with both modest and significant special education needs, and our school leaders, teachers and other professionals work tirelessly each day to serve all our students well [....] Most of our students who receive special education services are experiencing real growth, and we have high levels of overall parent satisfaction." The lawsuit was settled in early 2018.

New Model

In 2016, Achievement First introduced "a new school model that they hope can maintain their high expectations and strict rules, while letting students develop independence and a sense of identity."[6] The model was called Greenfield. The founding principal of a Greenfield school said that, "“Part of the model is addressing the idea that our students need to be prepared for college, and not just prepared academically."

Other adjustments over time include shortening the school day by an hour.

References

1. "Achievement First, Inc. Form 990 2015". ProPublica. Retrieved November 10, 2017.
2. Charters get own education graduate school By YOAV GONEN, Education Reporter February 15, 2011 NY Post
3. Green, Elizabeth (February 14, 2011). "A new graduate school of education, Relay, to open next fall". Chalkbeat New York. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
4. "Can a 'No Excuses' Charter Teach Students to Think for Themselves?". The New York Times. January 11, 2018. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 12, 2018.
5. "Lawsuit Accuses Brooklyn Charter School of Failing to Provide Special Education Services". The New York Times. November 5, 2015. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 12, 2018.
6. "Can a 'No Excuses' Charter Teach Students to Think for Themselves?". The New York Times. January 11, 2018. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 12, 2018.

External links

• Achievement First website