Idaho’s high school graduation rates showed some improvement last year. According to the 2014-15 numbers, released Friday by the State Department of Education, 78.9 percent of seniors received their high school diploma. The 2013-14 graduation rate was 77.3. The improvement comes as high school graduation rates have come under increased public and political scrutiny. Graduation rates were long considered one of Idaho’s K-12 success stories — but as Idaho Education News first reported in December, Idaho’s 2013-14 rate ranked 41^st in the nation. State superintendent Sherri Ybarra was quick to praise the new numbers. “It is positive movement,” she said in a news release Friday afternoon/Kevin Richert, Idaho Education News. More here.