13News Investigates: Bullying often under reported in schools - WOWK 13 Charleston, Huntington WV News, Weather, Sports

Middle school is too early to be warned about impending heart attacks. 

But that is exactly what Tonya Barnett-Huff said doctors told her while her son was a target of constant bullying. 

"I felt like as a failure as a mother," said Barnett-Huff. 

She, like thousands of other West Virginia parents, are familiar with the toll bullying can take on students and families. 

A 13News investigation has found that bullying may go severely under reported in West Virginia schools. 

Every year, schools are required to submit numbers of bullying incidents to the West Virginia Department of Education. 

In 2011, those numbers reveal large gaps between those numbers at schools just miles apart.

Ramage Elementary reported 43 incidents of bullying, the largest of any elementary school in Boone County. Nearby Van Elementary reported three incidents of bullying, the closest of any Boone County elementary school was to Ramage's reporting numbers. 

It is a trend seen in several area school districts. 

Kanawha, Putnam and Cabell County showed similar issues. 

Huntington Middle School reported 84 incidents of bullying more than doubling all other Cabell County middle schools. 

According to Superintendent William Smith, it is the schools with high numbers that are dealing with bullying most accurately.

"When you see those low numbers, it's bullying not being reported," said Smith. 

Huntington Middle, according to Smith, has been getting students and staff involved in the reporting of bullying. 

"Often times children being bullied will not report. Even spectators don't report [bullying]," said Smith. "We've talked to them about how important it is if they see it, they're supposed to report it. Those numbers you're seeing show that the administration is taking it seriously."

Barnett-Huff said she talked to her school administrators but was not taken seriously. 

"It's not looked at as serious. It's looked at as kids being kids," said Barnett-Huff. "They think it's a normal part of growing up. Violence is never a normal part of growing up."

A member of Bully Free West Virginia, an anti-bullying non-profit, Barnett-Hoff suggests parents staying actively involved in their students lives and contact school administrators if they believe bullying has been taking place.

The following are incidents of bullying in 2011 as reported to the West Virginia Department of Education. Schools with two times or more reported bullying incidents than other county schools are highlighted: 

Boone County

Ramage Elementary: 43
Wharton Elementary: 2
Brookview Elementary: 2
Van Elementary: 3
Sherman High: 16
Nellis Elementary: 3
Madison Middle; 37
Sherman Junior High: 7
Scott High: 4

Cabell County

Huntington Middle: 84
Guyandotte Elementary: 21
Highlawn Elementary: 2
Milton Elementary: 3
Barboursville Middle: 16
Enslow Middle: 36
Beverly Hills Middle: 17
Cabell Midland High: 13
Huntington High: 25

Jackson County

Kenna Elementary: 5
Henry Kaiser Elementary: 1
Gilmore Elementary: 3
Cottageville Elementary: 5
Ripley Elementary: 6
Ravenswood Grade: 3
Ravenswood Middle: 1
Ripley Middle: 24
Ripley High: 3
Ravenswood High: 24

Kanawha County

Elementary Schools

Clendenin Elementary: 57
Hayes Middle: 16
Andrew Jackson Middle: 6
McKinley Middle: 16
Dunbar Middle: 6
Stonewall Jackson Middle: 13
West Side Elementary: 7
Du Pont Middle: 11
Horace Mann Middle: 1
Cedar Grove Elementary: 18
Elk Elementary: 6
Dunbar Intermediate: 9
J.E. Robins Elementary: 2
Bridgeview Elementary: 13
George C. Weimer Elementary: 3
Holz Elementary: 1
Midland Trail Elementary: 2
Richmond Elementary: 3
Chesapeake Elementary: 6
Grandview Elementary: 4
Alban Elementary: 11
Overbrook Elementary: 2
Pratt Elementary: 3
Chamberlain Elementary: 3
Kanawha City Elementary: 3
Nitro Elementary: 1
Ruffner Elementary: 3
Point Harmony Elementary: 8
Central Elementary: 11
Piedmont Year Round: 9
Watts Elementary: 1
Elkview Middle: 21
Bonham Elementary: 1
Bridge Elementary: 1
Alum Creek Elementary: 5
Shoals Elementary: 3
Andrews Heights Elementary: 1
Mary Ingles Elementary: 1
Dunbar Primary: 5
Weberwood Elementary: 1

Middle Schools:

John Adams Middle School: 64
East Bank Middle: 19
Sissonville Middle: 12
South Charleston Middle: 15
Cedar Grove Middle: 14
Tyler Middle: 27

High Schools:

Saint Albans High: 4
Herbert Hoover High: 7
George Washington High: 6
Nitro High: 9
Capital High: 12
Riverside High: 16
Sissonville High: 3
South Charleston High: 11

Nicholas County

Richwood High: 3
Richwood Middle: 22
Craigsville Elementary: 2
Beaver Elementary: 3
Summersville Middle: 8
Summersville Elementary: 4

Putnam County

Hurricane Middle: 57
Poca Middle: 8
Winfield High: 1
Buffalo High: 1
West Teays Elementary: 2
Winfield Middle: 3
Winfield Elementary: 1
Buffalo Elementary: 6
Hurricane High: 2
Poca High: 17
George Washington Elementary: 4