Mitchell County Schools are celebrating the first ever system wide achievement of meeting the state-measured academic growth standards for the 2011-2012 school year. Final composite scores and state ABC’s results show that Bowman Middle, Deyton Elementary, Gouge Elementary, Mitchell High and Tipton Hill School were eligible for the Department of Public Instruction’s “high growth” designation while Harris Middle and Mayland Early College earned “growth” status. Composite scores show that the county’s schools have maintained or improved upon the progress made in recent years, according to Mitchell County Schools testing director Chad Calhoun who presented the news to the school board Monday night.