State legislators recognized that students in the United States continue to struggle with reading and have begun implementing laws requiring schools to use science of reading-aligned curriculum when teaching reading (Schwartz, 2022). Many students lack the foundational skills to even begin learning how to read in grades K-3 (Kuhfeld et al., 2022). This study evaluates the effectiveness of Heggerty's Bridge to Reading foundational skills curriculum for first-grade students in a rural, diverse southern school district during the 2023-2024 school year. Using a quasi-experimental design, LXD Research compared reading outcomes of first graders using Bridge to Reading (239 students) with a similar comparison group (724 students). The NWEA MAP Growth assessment showed significant reading gains and higher end-of-year scores for Bridge to Reading students relative to the comparison group. The statistical results were supported by positive feedback from educators and administrators implementing the program through interviews and surveys. These findings demonstrate Bridge to Reading's ability to improve reading achievement for first graders.