More kids will be walking across the stage next week to collect their diplomas. The improvement comes after graduation rates for the Kern High School District hit a five-year high. Nearly 87-percent of students will complete high school locally, and Director of Instruction Vickie Spanos thinks they are staying in class because of good support systems on campus.Spanos also credits stricter standards, more vocational education and community partnerships for the rise.(87% is generally a B+ for most tests, thus the headline)