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Choosing Where You’ll Teach

When you join Teach For America, you get to decide where you will teach and live, choosing from one of our 40+ regions. We’ve outlined details like when in the application process you will make your choice, things worth considering, resources to aid in your decision-making, and the ongoing support you’ll receive before and after this major life transition.
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How to Choose Your Location

There will be two opportunities to select where you’d like to teach—within your application and after you complete your interview.

On your application, you will be asked to select one Teach For America region as your preferred choice. It’s optional to include one or two additional choices if there is more than one region that you’d say “yes” to. Here are your options for choosing a location:

  • Select only one region: There's only one location you'd say “yes” to.
  • Select up to three regions: You are open to teaching in multiple locations and would be excited to accept an offer from any of the locations you’ve selected.
  • Select that you are flexible: You are willing to teach in a region with the greatest need.
  • Select “I don’t know yet.” If you are unsure where you’d like to live and teach, you can take time to research your options and decide after your interview.

Applicants invited to interview will have the opportunity to finalize their regional selection after the interview window closes. This means:

  • If you haven’t selected a region, you will do so at this point. 
  • If you did select a region, you have the flexibility to make additional changes to your selections. 
  • You might be asked to rank specific locations within a region to determine exactly where you will teach because some regions have multiple placement communities (for example, the Colorado region has three placement community options: Colorado Springs, Denver, and Pueblo).

Spotlight On...

These regions have vibrant communities, rich culture, and kids with loads of potential. Check out a few regions where the need for leaders like you is especially high, and so is your opportunity for making a lasting change. 

A purple map of the United States

Resources to Find the Best Location for You

Where you teach might be the place where you grew up or somewhere completely new. Either way, here are resources to help you weigh your options:

Things to Consider When Choosing a Location

To make the best choice for your TFA experience, consider the following:

Getting Your Offer

When and How Your Region and Subject Assignment Are Communicated

Typically, two weeks after your Teach For America interview, you will hear from TFA about your admissions decision. If admitted to the corps, you will receive a confirmation email of your acceptance and the details of your offer, which will include:

  • Regional Placement: The community where you will teach.
  • Subject Assignment: What you’ll be teaching. Remember to remain flexible as this might slightly change before the first day of school.
  • School Placement Process: How we will help with finding you the perfect job in a Teach For America partner school.
  • Compensation Range and Financials: Salary expectations for your region and additional financial supports for your transition.

Getting Started with Your Region

From here, you will start working with your region more closely, receiving a regional offer guide and having the opportunity to attend a virtual call with your assigned region.

You will have 10 days to consider and accept your offer.

Learn more about accepting your Teach For America offer.

Find the Right Location for You

Thinking seriously about applying, but don’t know where you want to teach?