Achievement First

What Achievement First does

Achievement First is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charter school network that operates tuition-free K-12 schools across Connecticut, New York, and Rhode Island, serving students in urban communities with historically limited access to high-quality public education. The organization was founded in 2001 and is currently in its 25th year of operation, running an enrollment model based on open, lottery-based admissions rather than academic selection. Its service portfolio includes elementary, middle, and high school programs, with an extended school day and longer school year designed to add approximately one full academic year of learning time across the K-12 arc. The network distinguishes its high school offering through universal AP coursework, college counseling, and post-secondary support, and operates specialty programs including the Empower Program.

The underlying operating model is a multi-site education delivery platform with shared curriculum frameworks, instructional best practices, and a centralized Network Support function headquartered in New Haven, Connecticut (470 James Street, Suite 007), with regional offices in Providence, Rhode Island (206 Elmwood Avenue) and New York (25 Broadway, 12th Floor). The technology stack is standard K-12 educational technology — curriculum management systems, student information systems, and assessment tools used to support data-driven and differentiated instruction — with no proprietary AI/ML capability disclosed. Documented academic outcomes include 92% math proficiency at AF Bushwick Middle School (ranking 3rd among 1,960 NY middle schools) and ELA proficiency growth from 2% to 58% at AF Bridgeport Middle School over a single school year.

The revenue model is fundamentally a public-funding reimbursement structure: Achievement First receives state per-pupil allocations under performance charters granted by state education departments in CT, NY, and RI, supplemented by federal grants and private donations raised through annual campaigns such as Impact Week. As a nonprofit, the organization has no disclosed equity funding, parent company, or M&A activity; the entity operates as Achievement First Public Charter Schools under governance of a board of trustees. Headcount is reported in the 501-1,000 range, consistent with a multi-state operator of this scale.

Name

Achievement First

Legal name

Achievement First Public Charter Schools

Website

https://achievementfirst.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Achievement First is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charter school network operating tuition-free K-12 schools across Connecticut, New York, and Rhode Island, funded primarily through state per-pupil allocations, federal grants, and private donations, serving urban students via lottery-based enrollment.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Charter School Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Charter School Networks (Multi-Site) (EDAJACAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Charter College-Prep & Advanced Academics Schools (EDAJACAJ)

Keywords

• K-12 charter schools
• Public education
• Charter school network
• College preparatory education
• Tuition-free education

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Per-Pupil Public Funding: As a public charter school network, Achievement First operates as a nonprofit organization primarily funded through state per-pupil funding allocations. Schools receive public dollars based on student enrollment, similar to traditional public schools. Additional revenue comes from federal grants, private donations, and fundraising campaigns such as the annual Impact Week campaign.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Achievement First operates a network of tuition-free public charter schools providing K-12 college-preparatory education to students across Connecticut, New York, and Rhode Island. The network delivers extended school day and year programs, AP courses, college counseling, and a range of extracurricular activities, with families enrolling through a lottery-based admissions system. Schools are funded through state per-pupil public allocations, federal grants, and private donations.

Product overview

Achievement First operates as a unified network of tuition-free public charter schools rather than a modular software product. The organization provides K-12 education services across three states (Connecticut, New York, and Rhode Island), with schools ranging from elementary to high school programs. Key offerings include the core school network providing college-preparatory education, specialized programs like the Empower Program and Anchor Program, annual Impact Week fundraising initiatives, and high school programs with AP courses and college counseling. The organization does not offer discrete software products or technology platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Achievement First Public Charter Schools A tuition-free public charter school network providing K-12 education across Connecticut (Bridgeport, Hartford, New Haven), New York, and Rhode Island. Focused on college and career readiness with extended school day/year, rigorous academic curriculum, and a lottery-based enrollment system open to all students.
• AF Envision Middle School A new middle school opening in fall 2026 in New York, part of the Achievement First charter school network, focused on college-preparatory middle school education.
• AF University Prep High School
• Achievement First Empower Program A program within the Achievement First network supporting student development and academic enrichment.

Quantifiable outcome

• 92% math proficiency rate achieved by AF Bushwick Middle School 8th graders, ranking 3rd among all 1,960 NY middle schools
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Uncommon Schools: Northeast-based nonprofit charter management organization operating a network of K-12 public charter schools with college-prep focus, overlapping directly with Achievement First's geography and student demographic.
• Rocketship Public Schools: Nonprofit charter elementary school network using blended learning and data-driven instruction to serve predominantly low-income students, comparable to AF's elementary programming and demographic focus.
• Success Academy Charter Schools: Large New York City-based charter school network with a data-driven instruction, extended-day, and college-prep model that mirrors Achievement First's pedagogical approach and overlaps in New York markets.
• KIPP Public Schools: One of the largest U.S. charter school networks operating tuition-free public charter schools with a college-prep mission and extended learning time model, directly comparable to Achievement First's operating approach.
• IDEA Public Schools: National nonprofit charter network operating tuition-free K-12 public charter schools with a college-prep mission, extended learning time, and outcomes-driven culture comparable to Achievement First's.
• BASIS Charter Schools: Network of public charter schools emphasizing rigorous college-prep academics and advanced coursework, comparable to Achievement First's AP-for-all and college readiness emphasis.

Broad incumbents

• Green Dot Public Schools: Nonprofit charter management organization operating public charter schools across multiple states with a college-prep focus and turnaround school expertise, broadly comparable to Achievement First's network model.
• National Heritage Academies: Large charter management organization operating K-8 public charter schools nationwide with a moral-focus curriculum, serving as a broad incumbent in the charter school management space.
• New York City Department of Education: Largest U.S. traditional public school district; competes with Achievement First for students in Brooklyn and other New York markets where AF operates and sets the baseline for outcomes comparisons.

Others

• Teach For America: Talent pipeline organization supplying teachers to high-need schools including many charter networks; comparable as an ecosystem participant supporting AF's talent acquisition strategy.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/achievement1st
• Instagraminstagram.com/achievement1st

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Achievement First