FWIW, I don't think test scores are the only thing that matter for merit aid, at least not at all the high academics (I know there are a lot of median level schools that use them as a bright line test, though). My son ended up with the max award for a variable amount scholarship at his school, despite a below-median ACT for his class. He's also receiving an enormous amount of need-based aid, since both his parents are middle school teachers, and I get the impression that the school mixes and matches on both merit and need-based awards to put together the financial packages it wants.