Annual Report 2022

As I pen this letter, we are off to a new school year that feels full of hope and promise. After a year and a half of schooling through a computer screen, we opened our doors and our schools are full of life again. The reinvigoration of in-person school communities has brought back a sense of joy that we have not felt in some time. Our teachers, aids, deans, and principals have shared a palpable sense of optimism as they sit alongside our scholars and see our schools return to a place of normalcy. This first year back in person was not easy. In many ways, enduring a second year of the pandemic’s impact was harder than the first as we grappled with difficult working conditions compounded with the uncertainty of COVID’s long-term effects on our kids and the world. Yet, this year is a tremendous step forward. We are back.

I had the privilege of joining Achievement First in early May as the 2021-22 school year was drawing to a close. Across our New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island schools, I experienced our students thriving with the support of their teachers and other caring staff to make the most of each day of instruction. However, no matter how vibrant the halls or how hard we tried, we have ground to make up. Our students have struggled with the learning loss of the last two years both academically and social-emotionally. We have considerable work to do to support them in making up for precious lost time.

As we ended last year, we set out to make 22-23 strong for our students beginning on day one. We held in-person professional development for our school leaders and teachers for the first time in two years. We set ambitious goals to double down on reading and other essential skills for our students while supporting the whole child to enable their development. Starting a second year back in person with our efforts aligned to strategic priorities, we are excited to already see momentum and enhanced learning.

I am inspired by and thankful for the dedication of our teachers and staff; for their steadfast belief in our mission that all children deserve the opportunity to a quality education that prepares them to excel at college, career, and life – to lead lives of purpose and leadership. We also see in our students a determination and resilience that makes us humbled to work in service of them, their families, and our communities.

We are grateful for our scholars and their families who entrust their education to us, our devoted teachers and staff, our boards, our authorizers, and our funders.

With deep appreciation for your continued support,

Lisa Margosian

Interim CEO

OUR MISSION

Our mission is to deliver on the promise of equal educational opportunity for all of America’s children. We know that every child ─ regardless of race, zip code, or economic status ─ deserves access to a great education.

At Achievement First, our students realize their potential and develop the skills they need to graduate from college, succeed in a competitive world, and serve as the next generation of leaders in our community.

Achievement First’s operative construct is that we position our students to have choices in their lives through the skills and experiences that we provide them, not link them to a particular destiny.

WHERE WE WORK WHO WE ARE

ACHIEVEMENT FIRST

Amistad High School

Apollo Elementary School

Apollo Middle School

Aspire Elementary School

Aspire Middle School

Bridgeport Academy Elementary School

Bridgeport Academy Middle School

Brooklyn High School

Brownsville Elementary School

Brownsville Middle School

Bushwick Elementary School

Bushwick Middle School

Crown Heights Elementary School

Crown Heights Middle School

East Brooklyn High School

East New York Elementary School

East New York Middle School

Endeavor Elementary School

Endeavor Middle School

Envision Elementary School

Hartford Academy Elementary School

Hartford High School

Hartford Summit Middle School

Iluminar Mayoral Academy Elementary School

Iluminar Mayoral Academy Middle School

Legacy Elementary School

Linden Elementary School

Linden Middle School

North Brooklyn Prep Elementary School

North Brooklyn Prep Middle School

Promesa Mayoral Academy Elementary School

Providence High School

Providence Mayoral Academy Elementary School

Providence Mayoral Academy Middle School

University Prep High School

Voyager Middle School

Ujima High School

Amistad Elementary School

Amistad Middle School

Elm City College Prep Elementary School

Elm City College Prep Middle School

OUR VALUES

Lead for Racial Equity.

AF exists to address the legacy of racism in education. We look at ourselves first. We reflect and talk about the role race plays in our work, experiences, and decisions. We strive to be constantly antiracist in our words and actions.

Strive for Excellence.

We set ambitious goals and don’t stop until we achieve them. Then, we set new goals.

Embrace Challenge.

We grow when we’re challenged. That’s why we welcome mistakes and challenges as opportunities to learn and get better.

Care for the Whole Person.

We share a journey to fulfill our potential as whole people. We support that journey by honoring each other’s identities, emotions, and dreams AND by pushing each other from a place of belief and love.

Choose Joy.

We choose to see the purpose and joy that is within and around us, and we actively work to spread joy to others throughout each day.

Go Further Together.

We accomplish more together than we can alone. We join forces on big and small things. We do what we say we will do. We make choices with our team and family in mind.

WHO WE SERVE

STUDENT POPULATION

• 57% Black

• 38.8% Latinx

• 96% Black and Latinx

ADVANCED PLACEMENT

• 100% of high school graduates have taken at least one AP class

• 6.7 average number of AP classes taken by graduates

55% of AF students identify as Black or African American, and 40% identify as Hispanic/Latino.

11% of AF students receive special education services.

9% of AF students are multilingual learners.

More than 95% of AF students receive free or reduced-price lunch. Lower income families are forming a greater proportion of the AF community. More affluent families are leaving urban areas at higher rates following the onset of the pandemic, and the trend is reflected in AF’s student population.

15,283 students served

RESULTS

• Total number of acceptances: 3,410 (51%)

• Total number of graduates: 539

• Average number of acceptances: 6

• Percent taking 1+ AP class: 100%

• Average number of AP classes: 6.6

• Percent accepted to a 4-year college: 88%

• Percent applied early decision: 16%

• Percent accepted after applying early: 65%

DONAVAN

DONAVAN

AF PROVIDENCE MIDDLE PRINCIPAL

The waves have come in many forms for Donavan throughout these last few years at Achievement First. Even while starting a new position – in the midst of the pandemic, introducing remote and hybrid learning to his teachers and students, and re-adjusting to in-person learning – Donavan has remained committed to helping his scholars thrive.

With the transition back to in-person learning last year, Donavan has seen a renewed sense of culture and community. Whether through reconnecting with colleagues, meeting with families, or seeing the smiling faces of students in the hallways, Donavan was pleased that remote learning didn’t diminish the Achievement First spirit. Donavan chalks this up to the perseverance of scholars and educators to come together and embrace challenges.

In his nearly ten-year career at Achievement First, Donavan’s worn many hats as an educator – he has led academic departments, inspired student-athletes while coaching basketball, and guided a school throughout a global pandemic. He has led and taught at multiple Achievement First Schools, including Elm City College Preparatory, AF Bridgeport Academy Middle, and Amistad High, before stepping into the role as the principal of AF Providence Middle School in 2020.

Now, as Donavan continues to shepherd his school into a second year of in-person learning, culture and community are at the forefront more than ever. “We are moving in unison to achieve one collective purpose,” says Donavan. He and his team never had to re-imagine or redefine “community,” rather they needed to see, hear, and feel how a community took shape in this new normal.

Many waves but one sea. This guiding principle has helped Donavan focus on building a strong community, made up of many different individuals from varying backgrounds, at Achievement First Providence Middle. A community where kids were blossoming in class, showing their true selves during spontaneous hallway dance parties, and school leaders like Donavan allowed the best parts of the virtual student experience to live alongside the very best parts of the in-person student experience.

When Donavan Tracey yells, “Many waves,” his students at AF Providence Middle School yell back, “One sea!”

ARIELLE

AF BUSHWICK ELEMENTARY

2ND GRADE ELA & SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER

Throughout her life, Arielle lived by the motto: ‘learn how to be comfortable not knowing anything.’ This became a mantra for her as she started her career as a teacher last fall at AF Bushwick Elementary. And even though she was now the one, “behind the desk”, Arielle felt like a student again. School, as she had known it growing up, had changed.

There were a lot of new beginnings in 2021 for Arielle: a new school home, colleagues, and a new group of enthusiastic 2nd graders. The team at AF Bushwick Elementary had to rethink elementary school, adjust, and strategize all year long, while often not knowing what tomorrow would bring. Nevertheless, Arielle and the team at AF Bushwick Elementary devised multiple strategies to foster growth and inclusivity across the second grade.

They put reading as the first class of the day to boost engagement and comprehension, met regularly with students, and structured planning with co-teachers and school leaders to collaborate on ways to improve. Arielle says that she, “Never felt alone,” and that last year’s successes and achievements were possible because AF Bushwick Elementary worked in a community for and with each other.

“As a teacher (in my first year), working and learning in community with my peers meant so much to me,” says Arielle. “I grew to be more adaptable and solutions-oriented because I saw first-hand the importance of coming together as a team.”

AF BRIDGEPORT

MIDDLE SCHOOL & AF AMISTAD HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNA

Isabella doesn’t take her titles for granted. She is a first-generation college graduate, North Carolina A&T University student, small-business owner, Lead for North Carolina fellow, and most importantly: an Achievement First graduate.

These positions, diplomas, and milestones were earned, not gifted. And that’s always been the case since she joined Achievement First Bridgeport Academy Middle School. Her reading and math skills were above her grade level, she was always taking on extra credit, and she secured college scholarships before she even graduated from Achievement First Amistad High School. When she went on to continue her studies at North Carolina A&T State University, that trend continued: she became an Amazon Prime student ambassador, served as a mentor to underclassmen, and even started her own business that delivers hair and skincare products to young black women on all HBCU campuses across the country.

When she graduated, Isabella remembers the words of her father that reminded her of the people who got her there, “You are not just getting this degree for you. There are people that you don’t know that always ask me about you, and always root for you.” She was able to reflect on her past journey and see that it wouldn’t have been possible without the outpouring of love and support from her family, loved ones, and the Achievement First community.

As hard as the challenges were – from having to take off a semester due to a family emergency to working two part-time jobs to financially support herself – Isabella persevered. It was the continual support of her Achievement First community that showed her she was never alone. It was a team effort from day one.

Achievement First continues to play a huge role in Isabella’s life, even all these years later. She knows the importance of aiming high and giving back, remembering all the lessons she’s kept close since graduating. As a Lead for North Carolina fellow, Isabella is learning the in’s-and-out’s of local government, strengthening public institutions, and supporting our local communities. Though Isabella’s eyes are firmly set on the bright career path ahead of her, she is taking the next steps of her journey in service of doing what is best for the community and loved ones that got her here.

AF BRIDGEPORT MIDDLE SCHOOL & AF AMISTAD HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNA ISABELLA

ERIC

Eric’s experiences at Achievement First have been a constant positive influence throughout his life. After attending Crown Heights Middle School, he went on to Brooklyn High and eventually the University of Buffalo, graduating this year. Once graduating, he faced the same challenge of millions of other recent graduates: finding a job.

Eric wanted a career that allowed him to fuse his passion for new technology with his desire to help people. Eric realized that he needed to ‘get his foot in the door,’ but wasn’t sure where to turn, so he looked to a community he already knew, Achievement First. He recalled what one of his Achievement First teachers once told him: “If you ever need help or a path toward where you want to go, Achievement First will always be here.”

After taking time to reflect and converse with his parents and college counselor, Eric decided to start his career as an Information Technology intern at Achievement First.

Eric is critical to the success of today’s Achievement First scholars because he helps ensure schools have all of the technology to provide students with the very best educational experience possible. Through his internship, Eric has traveled to all 41 Achievement First schools to help prepare leaders and teachers for the start of the academic year. He has also learned more about the Achievement First organization –the people, teams, structures, and systems – that shaped his academic, personal, and professional journeys. And throughout this whole experience, Eric made an important realization: “Forward Together” does not stop at graduation. Achievement First will always go forward with him and he will go further because of his time at Achievement First.

AF CROWN HEIGHTS MIDDLE ‘14 & AF BROOKLYN HIGH ‘18

ELEMENTARY & MIDDLE SCHOOL FAMILY

ROSA AND ANGEL

Rosa has seen her son, Angel, grow into a young adult during their family’s time at Achievement First. She credits Angel’s academic and social development to her son’s teachers.

Throughout their nine years at AF East New York Elementary and Middle, Angel’s teachers possessed an unwavering commitment to ensuring he was the best version of himself inside and outside of the classroom.

However, Rosa deserves a bit of that credit as well. At Achievement First, we believe that parents are a child’s first and most important teachers. Close partnerships with families are core to who we are and why make our schools great. These close partnerships also deepen our scholars’ knowledge of self and community. That strong partnership and optimism of going forward together were put to the test during the pandemic these last few years.

Angel experienced most of his years as a middle schooler at home, living through a pandemic, and spending more time learning with his first and most important teacher, his mother. While Angel studied for tests and logged onto virtual classes, Rosa realized that her son had difficulty focusing and adjusting to at-home learning. She communicated these observations to AF East New York Middle and they swiftly took action: Teachers scheduled checkpoints throughout the year for Rosa and Angel and advisors provided study guides and focusing techniques to their family. As a result, Angel’s grades improved, and he developed a newfound confidence and motivation to do better in everything he did.

“It is always a two-way street (with Achievement First and Angel’s teachers),” says Rosa. “His teachers have always given him the care and attention he needs. And I always communicate to them on how he’s doing and areas where I know he may need extra support.”

AF EAST NEW YORK ELEMENTARY & MIDDLE SCHOOL FAMILY

FY22 BUDGET

OUR SCHOOL FINANCES NETWORK SUPPORT EXPENSES

District Spending Per Pupil* Core

**Removed scaling schools (AF Ujima High, AF Legacy Elementary, AF Promesa Elementary, AF Envision Elementary, AF Iluminar Middle, AF Providence High)

***Includes a portion of ESSERII federal grant for covidresponse needs

Sources:

https://schoolstatefinance.org/issues/spending https://oese.ed.gov/ppe/new-york/ https://www.ride.ri.gov/Portals/0/Uploads/Documents/UCOA/FY21%20Per%20Pupil%20Expenditure%20Chart.pdf?ver=2022-06-10-113136-430 https://educationdata.org/public-education-spending-statistics#connecticut

IN PARTNERSHIP

ACHIEVEMENT FIRST NETWORK SUPPORT BOARD

Andrew Boas, Chair

General Partner, Carl Marks Management Co., LP

Tony Davis, Treasurer

Founder and Managing Partner, Inherent Group, LLC

William R. Berkley, Director

Chairman and CEO, W.R. Berkley Corporation

Thomas Lehrman, Director

Managing Partner, Haystack Partners

John Motley, Director

Founder and CEO, Motley Consulting

Valerie Rockefeller, Director

Chair, Rockefeller Brothers Fund

Ariela Rozman, Director

Co-Founder, EdNavigator

Greg Belinfanti

Senior Managing Director, One Equity Partners

Griselda Rodriquez-Solomon

Professor, City University of New York (CUNY)

William Buck

Treasurer, The Peter & Carmen Lucia Buck Foundation

K. Percy Ballah

Pastor, Impact Center PVD

ACHIEVEMENT FIRST BRIDGEPORT ACADEMY BOARD

Dick Kalt, Chair

Michael Strambler, Vice Chair

Rajeev Lakra, Treasurer

Marlene Macauda, Secretary

Kimberly Bruce, Director

Ruben Felipe, Director

Shalia Garnett, Director*

Debra Hertz, Director

Ebrima Jobe, Director

Dewey Loselle, Director

ACHIEVEMENT FIRST BROOKLYN

Deborah Shanley, Chair*

Romy Coquillette, Vice Chair

Jonathan Atkeson, Treasurer

Rhonda Barros, Trustee

Tamika Bradley, Trustee

Justin Cohen, Trustee*

Desiree Dalton, Trustee

Akeem Frett, Trustee

Theresa Hayes, Trustee*

Andy Hubbard, Trustee*

Judith Jenkins, Trustee

Christopher Lynch, Trustee

Anup Menon, Trustee

Kevin Miquelon, Trustee

Alison Richardson, Trustee

William Robalino, Trustee

Amy Arthur Samuels, Trustee

Josh Vidro, Trustee

Warren Young, Trustee

ACHIEVEMENT FIRST HARTFORD ACADEMY

Patsy Mundy, Chair*

Endia DeCordova, Vice Chair*

Ja Hannah, Secretary*

Bildade Augustin, Director*

David Dee, Director*

Francoise Deristel-Leger, Director

Jessica Glover, Director

Erwin Hurst, Director

Lisa Tanen-LaFontaine, Director

Alice Turner, Director

Celina Whitmore, Director*

ACHIEVEMENT FIRST RHODE ISLAND

Mayor Jorge Elorza, Chair

Ben Smith, Treasurer*

Reshma Singh, Secretary*

Maryellen Butke, Director

Susan Curtis, Director*

John Igliozzi, Director

Mayor Charles Lombardi, Director

Macky McCleary, Director

Natasha Tamba, Director

James Wiley, Director

*indicates member left the board in SY 21-22

LIST OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS

AMISTAD ACADEMY

Carolyn Greenspan, Chair*

Lorraine Gibbons, Secretary

Yashira Agosto, Director

Jennifer Alexander, Director

Jane Levin, Director*

Tyra Smallwood, Director*

Pat Sweet, Director

Ethan Tyminski, Director

Shannelle White, Director

ELM CITY COLLEGE PREPARATORY BOARD

Dick Ferguson, Chair

Laura Saverin, Treasurer

LaVonta Bryant, Director

Patric Gregory, Director

Katie Hagen, Director

Julia Halberstam, Director*

Stephanie Ma, Director

Prish Pierce, Director

Tina Wright, Director*

IN GRATITUDE

ORGANIZATIONS

Abata Therapeutics

AmazonSmile Foundation

The Ashforth Company

Big Y

IBM

PayPal

Research Engineering & Manufacturing Inc.

SchoolMint

Shaw’s Supermarkets

Stop & Shop

United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley

Yale New Haven Health

Yale University

FOUNDATIONS

Anonymous (2)

Achelis and Bodman Foundation

Ambler Family Giving Fund

Bedford Family Social Responsibility Fund

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

Box Tops for Education

Carson Family Charitable Trust

The Charles and Helen Schwab Foundation

Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation

Charter School Growth Fund

The City Fund

Community Foundation of Greater Memphis

Community Foundation of Greater New Haven

The Darrell Harvey Family Foundation Inc.

The Feinstein Foundation

The Grossman Family Foundation

H. A. Vance Foundation

Haffenreffer Family Fund

Heckscher Foundation

The Henry E. and Nancy Horton Bartels Trust

Hyde and Watson Foundation

The Jane and William Curran Foundation

The Joe C. Davis Foundation

KeyBank Foundation

Leo Nevas Memorial Fund

The Louis Calder Foundation

Lloyd G. Balfour Foundation

Lone Pine Foundation

Malcolm Hewitt Wiener Foundation

McAdams Charitable Foundation

Near & Far Aid Association, Inc.

NewAlliance Foundation

NewCity Foundation

The New York Community Trust - Lise Strickler and Mark Gallogly Charitable Fund

Ohnell Family Foundation, Inc.

The Opportunity Trust

The Overbrook Foundation

People’s United Community Foundation

The Peter and Carmen Lucia Buck Foundation, Inc.

Robbins Family Foundation

Robin Hood Foundation

Russell and Carey Jeffrey Family Foundation

Schwedel Foundation

Sea Cove Foundation

The Seedlings Foundation

Silverleaf Foundation

The Stewart & Constance Greenfield Foundation

Tiger Foundation

Ventress Family Foundation

The Vince and Linda McMahon Family Foundation

The William H. Pitt Foundation

The Witmer Family Fund

INDIVIDUALS

Yashira Agosto

Anna Aizer

Bruce Alexander

Jennifer Alexander

Rochelle Alley

Bildade Augustin

Lee Backus

Christine Bader

K. Percy Ballah

Andrew and Carol Boas

Catherine Bonanni

Douglas C Borchard and Barbara G

Talcott

Evangeline & Beau Burbidge

Guido and Anne Calabresi

Kate Carter

Alyssa Casden and Matthew Klein

Miguel Centeno

Allen Church

William Cohen

Romy and David Coquillette

Elizabeth Costa

Shawn and William Crowley

Karen Curnow

Tony Davis

Nancy J. De Lisi

Margaret DeVane

Vincent J. Dowling

Frank Downey

Emily Eisenlohr

William English

Richard and Cecilia Fabbro

Janet Faraguna

Abby Farber

Jeffrey Feldman

Ruben Felipe

Dorothy Fox

Elliot Frolichstein-Appel

Leisa Gallagher

Shalia Garnett

Lee Gelernt

George W. Evans

Chris Getman

Lorraine Gibbons

Marjorie and Frank Gillis

Nadine Gomes

Joseph W. Gordon and Mark Bauer

Carolyn Greenspan

W. Patric Gregory

David Gross

Peter Grua

Victoria Guisinger

David Halliday

Thomas Halsey

Ja Hannah

Teresa Harrison

Beth and Jonathan Hayes

Debra Hertz

Zeqiong Huang

Andrew Hubbard

Dorothy Hurt

Barry Jacobson

Jiaqi Jin

Ebrima Jobe

Kathie Julian

Lisa Kahn

Dick Kalt

Elana Karopkin

David Katzman

Thomas L. Kempner, Jr.

Susan Kerley

Michael Kerin

Marissa King

Benjamin Kleinman

Alvin Klevorick

Jane Korn

Samuel Kortum

Amanda Kowalski

Rakhi Kumar

Matthew LeBlanc

Manuel Lecour

Molly LeVan

Jane Levin

Jeffrey Lissack

Mari Lohela

Erika Long

Dewey Loselle

Christopher Lynch

Marlene Macauda

Sue and Steve Mandel

Catherine E. Manion

Kathryn Mathias

Michael May

Peter McChesney

Sidney McCleary

Grant McCracken

Doug McCurry

John H. Motley

Patsy Mundy

Jennifer Nelsen

David Newton

Harold and Sandra Noborikawa

Mark Oline

Brian and Jill Olson

Betsy and Bill Pace

Diane Palmeri

Michael J. Park and James F. Quinn

Kenneth Paul

Patricia Pierce and Marc Rubenstein

Patty Popov

Barbara Porter

Kate Roberts

Valerie Rockefeller

Griselda Rodriguez-Solomon

Robert Romano

Ariela Rozman and Chris McGee

Michael Salinger

Amy Arthur Samuels

Paul and Martha Samuelson

Laura Saverin

David L. Savin

Diane Schanzenbach

Melissa Scheve

Gabriel Schwartz

Erica and Andrew Schwedel

Kabir Seth

John R. Sinnenberg

Attallah Sheppard

Alfredo Silva

Samantha Singer

Reshma A. Singh

Mark Sklarz

Elizabeth Sledge

Joshua Smith

Elan Sofer

Ilana Hurwitz and Richard Starfield

Aaron Stelson

John and Susan Steuer

Carroll Stevens

Michael Strambler

Craig Stuart

Pat Sweet

Lauren Talbott

Lisa Tanen-Lafontaine

Sarah and Christian Taubman

Graham and Molly Thomas

Deborah Toll

Alice Turner

Ethan Tyminski

Josh Vidro

David Wan

Lankford and Jamie Wade

James Wiley

Mary Lou Winnick

Eric Woodworth

Alyson Zandt

Jidong Zhou