This article describes two approaches to improving literacy in a high poverty, diverse urban high school. One curriculum program, "Striving Readers," included a prescribed course of study for students reading below grade level along with schoolwide strategies. This approach did not improve targeted students' reading scores or motivation to read. The alternative approach, "Deep Roots: Civil Rights," was a culturally responsive curriculum that had a strong impact on the identified students' academic development as well as their understanding of racism in this country. An examination of "Striving Readers" and "Deep Roots: Civil Rights" projects provides insight into the impact of the curriculum on student achievement and motivation. At a time when many schools are implementing the Common Core State Standards, this article is a reminder that a compelling, rigorous, culturally responsive curriculum best serves all our nation's schoolchildren. Projects such as "Deep Roots: Civil Rights" provide an effective alternative or complement to prescribed reading programs.