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).Charters get own education graduate school By YOAV GONEN, Education Reporter February 15, 2011 NY Post
Achievement First runs 41 schools that serve approximately 12,500 students.
List of Schools Achievement First has 11 schools in Connecticut, 24 schools in New York, and 7 in Rhode Island. +AF Schools in ConnecticutStateCityGrade LevelNameCTBridgeportElementaryAchievement First Bridgeport Academy Elementary SchoolCTBridgeportMiddleAchievement First Bridgeport Academy Middle SchoolCTHartfordElementaryAchievement First Hartford Academy Elementary SchoolCTHartfordMiddleAchievement First Hartford Academy Middle SchoolCTHartfordMiddleAchievement First Summit Middle SchoolCTHartfordHighAchievement First Hartford High SchoolCTNew HavenElementaryAmistad Academy Elementary SchoolCTNew HavenElementaryElm City College Preparatory Elementary SchoolCTNew HavenMiddleAmistad Academy Middle SchoolCTNew HavenMiddleElm City College Preparatory Middle SchoolCTNew HavenHighAchievement First Amistad High School +AF Schools in New YorkStateCityTypeNameNYBrooklynElementaryAchievement First Apollo Elementary SchoolNYBrooklynElementaryAchievement First Aspire Elementary SchoolNYBrooklynElementaryAchievement First Brownsville Elementary SchoolNYBrooklynElementaryAchievement First Bushwick Elementary SchoolNYBrooklynElementaryAchievement First Crown Heights Elementary SchoolNYBrooklynElementaryAchievement First East New York Elementary SchoolNYBrooklynElementaryAchievement First Endeavor Elementary SchoolNYBrooklynElementaryAchievement First Linden Elementary SchoolNYBrooklynElementaryAchievement First North Brooklyn Prep Elementary SchoolNYBrooklynMiddleAchievement First Apollo Middle SchoolNYBrooklynMiddleAchievement First Aspire Middle SchoolNYBrooklynMiddleAchievement First Brownsville Middle SchoolNYBrooklynMiddleAchievement First Bushwick Middle SchoolNYBrooklynMiddleAchievement First Crown Heights Middle SchoolNYBrooklynMiddleAchievement First East New York Middle SchoolNYBrooklynMiddleAchievement First Endeavor Middle SchoolNYBrooklynMiddleAchievement First Linden Middle SchoolNYBrooklynMiddleAchievement First North Brooklyn Prep Middle SchoolNYBrooklynMiddleAchievement First Voyager Middle SchoolNYBrooklynHighAchievement First Brooklyn High SchoolNYBrooklynHighAchievement First East Brooklyn High SchoolNYBrooklynHighAchievement First Ujima High SchoolNYBrooklynHighAchievement First University Prep High SchoolNYQueensElementaryAchievement First Legacy Elementary School +AF Schools in Rhode IslandStateCityTypeNameRICranstonElementaryAchievement First Iluminar Mayoral Academy Elementary SchoolRIProvidenceElementaryAchievement First Providence Mayoral Academy Elementary SchoolRIProvidenceMiddleAchievement First Providence Mayoral Academy Middle SchoolRICranstonMiddleAchievement First Iluminar Mayoral Academy Middle SchoolRIProvidenceElementaryAchievement First Promesa Mayoral Academy Elementary SchoolRIProvidenceElementaryAchievement First Envision ElementaryRIProvidenceHighAchievement 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." 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." 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
External links Achievement First website