Community support of schools is top-notch

La Cañada Flintridge’s commitment to public schools is on display today, and it reflects well on the whole city.

All around town, signs are planted on front lawns and curb strips — not to promote a politician or a campaign measure, but to mark the homes of donors to the La Cañada Flintridge Educational Foundation.

Generous families give donations each year that total into the millions of dollars, with the foundation paying for summer school and a variety of other essentials that help keep local public schools top-notch.

Even more obvious signs of commitment could be found atop the mortar boards resting on the heads of La Cañada High School graduates Thursday night.

An overwhelming percentage of the graduates are headed to colleges and universities, with many attending the finest schools in the country.

This is, first and foremost, a testament to the hard work and dedication of the students, who took their education seriously even with distractions all around them.

It is also a testament to administrators who set the right tone on campus and the teachers who earn respect with the compassion they show toward students and the passion they convey for their subjects.

Yet it is also a tribute to La Cañada as a whole. Few cities put their money, time and energy toward ensuring successful public schools the way La Cañada does. At a time when state funds are dwindling, this dedication is more important than ever.