There are several State and Private academic scholarships that do not take into account the caliber of the High School.
My older boy got a 31 on his ACT and had a 3.8/4 GPA.
His GPA did not put him in the top 25% of his class, which was just under 400 kids!
He did get some academic money, but not nearly as much had he been in the top 25%.
A team mate got a 27 ACT and a 3.3 GPA and got twice as much because he was in the top 25% at his High School, which does not have near the academic reputation.
Doesn't seem fair, but that's the way it is!